PHOENIX – On Friday, players for the Arizona Coyotes were informed that the team will be relocating to Utah.
The rumor initially broke on several media outlets, and was later confirmed by a report from PHNX Sports.
Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong met with the players prior to their game in Edmonton and confirmed with the team that the week-long rumors that the NHL is working to facilitate the sale of the franchise to Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the Utah Jazz.
If the sale goes through, the Coyotes will begin play in Salt Lake City next season. Both parties are currently working on a deal but nothing is done yet, according to sources.
An announcement from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected some time mid-next week, at the conclusion of the NHL regular season. All players and staff members from Phoenix will be invited to visit Salt Lake City once their season is concluded to check out the city and facilities.
No Coyotes players were available to the media following Friday night's 3-2 overtime win against Edmonton. Coach Andre Tourigny told reporters that he would only take questions about the game.
"This team has been through a lot of adversity," Tourigny said. "The first time the rumor came around, we didn't manage it well and we shoot ourselves in the foot, went on a 14-game losing streak. Our guys are showing how proud they are, how much they care for each other and how much they want to have success with each other. It's cool to feel that, cool to see them cheering each other and pushing in the same direction like that."
The current plan has the team playing at the Delta Center, which is also owned by Smith and is also the home to the NBA's Jazz. However, the NHL has made it clear to the Smiths that hockey-specific upgrades will be needed at the Delta Center in order for the facility to become the team's permanent home, according to sources.
Smith already has garnered government support, as a bill was passed in the Utah State Senate to help fund a renovation project in the entertainment district downtown in anticipation of an NHL franchise. The bill also has approval from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Current Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo spent the past year trying to locate a permanent siye for his club, which has been playing its home games at Arizona State's Mullett Arena during the 2023-24 season. Meruelo believes he will be able to secure a plot in the Phoenix area by winning a state-run land auction that's set to happen on June 27. However, sources say the NHL grew skeptical of Meruelo's timeline and decided to search for a better solution for next season.
However, the NHL still has interest in returning to Arizona in the future and has left the door open to Meruelo to own the team.
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