After nearly three turbulent decades in Arizona, the Coyotes may be headed to Salt Lake City, as speculation intensifies over a potential relocation. Despite a flurry of rumors, the franchise’s ownership has largely kept quiet—until a strikingly candid message appeared on the Coyotes’ social media, hinting that change may be closer than expected.
The NHL has poured resources into keeping the Coyotes afloat since their relocation from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996, yet the team has continuously battled financial woes and instability. Ownership has changed hands seven times, and a long list of arena troubles culminated in the Coyotes being forced into a temporary, 4,600-seat arena shared with Arizona State University. The franchise’s newest majority owner, Alex Merulo, is making a last-ditch effort to secure a new home, eyeing a 100-acre plot in north Phoenix. But as reports surface about the NHL actively preparing contingency schedules for Utah, it’s clear the league is losing patience.
According to Daily Faceoff, the NHL has discussed purchasing the Coyotes from Merulo for $1 billion and reselling them to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith for $1.3 billion, with profits shared among NHL teams. If the move materializes, it would mark one of the NHL’s boldest moves in years, positioning Salt Lake City as an unexpected new hockey hub.
The Coyotes declined to address the Salt Lake City rumors directly, adding fuel to the speculation, but an Instagram Story attributed to the organization on Thursday made it clear: a decision on the franchise’s future may be imminent.
While Merulo is still pursuing an Arizona solution, this latest turn of events suggests the Coyotes may be skating toward an exit. If Salt Lake City becomes their new home, it would be a seismic shift for the franchise and the NHL—one that could finally end the Coyotes’ long-standing struggle for stability.
