If anything can appreciate the importance of hockey in the state of Arizona, it's Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews.
Just hours before he will try and become the fastest NHLer to hit 50 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96, Matthews — a Scottsdale, Ariz., native — was asked about the ongoing uncertainty over the Arizona Coyotes' arena plans.
"I think that would mean a lot," Matthews said on the Coyotes eventually getting a proper NHL size rink. "Obviously there is a lot of stuff that goes into it, a lot of hoops to jump through... talking to the guys that have the opportunity to play here and friends on the team, it's an amazing place to live and play."
While the 4,600-seated Mullett Arena is certainly a unique experience for fans, Matthews knows a new arena would be in the best interest of the league.
"Missing the rink situation is a little bit off," Matthews said. "If they could figure that out, I'm positive they could find a solution and it would work out best for everyone. But obviously it's harder said than done. "
The NHL has worked to keep the Coyotes in the area through multiple ownership changes and a game of musical rinks that have landed them on Arizona State's campus in Tempe. They have an agreement to play at Mullett Arena for the 2024-25 season with a possible extension, but player complaints about the situation make it clear the league and union want an alternative.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he was not in the business of contradicting owners and was trusting Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo who said the team is committed to finding a new place to play in Arizona.
"Alex Meruelo, as recently as last week, told me he was certain he was going to get this done,” Bettman said at the NHL All-Star game in early February. “I’m both hopeful and reasonably confident that he’s going to do what he says."
After Tempe voters rejected an arena referendum last year, the Coyotes announced in June they had identified six possible sites that would not need approval and in August said Meruelo had executed a letter of intent to buy a piece of land for a potential arena in Mesa. Bettman said Meruelo was focused on one property and that the league was focused on it with him.
— With files from the Associated Press
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