The NHL remains in a holding pattern when it comes to the fate of the Arizona Coyotes and the franchise’s next home — whether in the desert or elsewhere.
“At this point there’s no call to make yet on Arizona,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday following GM meetings in Florida. “We’re satisfied with where we are and certainly it’s [Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo]’s intention to go forward with the auction.”
Last week, it was announced that the plot of land in Phoenix on which Meruelo hopes to build a new arena was approved for auction by the Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals. That auction, which is to be held in June, is a crucial step for the franchise and league — and the timing of it has only heightened speculation about what could happen should Meruelo’s bid be unsuccessful.
Could a failed bid result in a rapid relocation of the team next season?
“Probably not,” said Daly. “I don’t believe so.”
Daly indicated “it’s getting late” for the league to form a contingency plan. Asked about potential impacts to next season’s schedule, Daly ruled out those concerns.
“We don’t have to release a schedule before the draft. We have flexibility as to when we need to release the schedule, so we’ll see how this plays out and release the schedule when we’re ready to release the schedule,” he said.
“I’m focused on the current,” Daly continued. “Currently, they’re going to play hockey games in Arizona this season.”
The Coyotes are in their second season of playing at Mullett Arena, a 4,600-seat rink at Arizona State University in Tempe. The team signed a three-year lease to call Mullett Arena home after the city of Glendale terminated its agreement for Gila River Arena following the 2021-22 season. Plans to build a new arena in Tempe were voted down in a public referendum last spring.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters on Wednesday he has “nothing new to add on Arizona” and that the subject continues to be something both the league and Coyotes ownership are focused on. He also reiterated his longstanding support for the NHL market.
“We would’ve preferred to be in a new arena by now, but there’s certain things that couldn’t be controlled,” Bettman said. “We believe Arizona, particularly the greater Phoenix area, is a good NHL market. It’s a place we want to be.”
— With files from Eric Engels
