NHL gives major update on finally relocating the Arizona Coyotes

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Liam McCormick
March 20, 2024 (9:34)

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One of the biggest topics on the agenda today for the NHL GMs meetings is finally relocating the Arizona Coyotes. The team still does not have an NHL sized arena, and have no plans to do so by next year. According to the NHL's Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, the league simply won't have enough time to turn around and relocate this summer, but things are beginning to look dire for Arizona.

Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is entering a land auction for a site to potentially build an arena this offseason, which still means even if they win, it will be a while until their next arena is built. Since Marty Walsh took over as head of the NHLPA, there's been an attitude shift around the league to not tolerating any more failure from the Coyotes organization, and relocation talks have really picked up. Daly wouldn't comment on relocation today, but did say that «It's getting late» in regards to the NHL being forced into a decision after next year.

To hear this kind of comment from a member of the commissioner's office is incredibly rare, as now they are finally recognizing the dire state of the franchise and the actual financial need to stop to Coyotes experiment.

It's now clear that the fans, players, executives, and owners are fed up with the charade of staying in Arizona. Utah has emerged with an ownership group and an NHL quality arena ready to go, and it could actually be a profitable endeavour unlike Arizona. The NHL might not have time to pivot to Utah for next season, but best believe they will be preparing for 2025-26.