Breaking NHL News: Coyotes Move Out Of Arizona Close To Done

It appears that next Wednesday’s season finale will be the Coyotes’ final game in Arizona. Reports say there is a deal making “significant and meaningful” progress that would see the team sold, rebranded and relocated to Salt Lake City as soon as next Thursday. In fact, the deal is so close that the NHL is said to be drawing up an alternate schedule for next year that includes Salt Lake City rather than Arizona. 

Sources say #Yotes players have been informed that something of a "verbal" agreement is in place to relocate to Salt Lake City, but we've received pushback on that characterization of talks.

Nonetheless, this is well down the track. Let's see what happens next. https://t.co/kuaIoVyb4d

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 10, 2024

According to insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, one Coyotes player said there are rumors of “meeting about the future” before everyone leaves for the off-season next Thursday.

The league has sent a memo to its Board of Governors informing them of the significant progress in talks to move the team to Utah, though, as Friedman notes, "there is still a lot to be done."

Interestingly, he's also reporting that as part of the sale of the team to the NHL and Utah's Ryan Smith, Arizona's Alex Meruelo "could be offered a five-year exclusive window to 'bring back' the Coyotes as an expansion franchise.

So while a move to Utah is not across the finish line, but it's certainly charging down the stretch at full speed. 

Photo: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports