Coyotes end tenure in desert with raucous atmosphere and a win
Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the three years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah.
For 60 minutes, they got one last chance to watch the team they came to love before the franchise as they know it is no more.
The Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City in a deal that could be signed less than 24 hours after Wednesday night’s 5-2 win over Edmonton. Hockey could return, perhaps within five years, but the stark reality is this is the end for the foreseeable future.
“It’s sad, it’s upsetting,” said Ryan Travis, a Coyotes seasonticket holder since 2001. “I can’t believe it’s finally come to an end, I can’t believe this is how it’s going to end.”
Coyotes fans had been dreading this moment, hoping it never would happen.
They remained loyal through multiple ownership changes.
They followed the team to three different arenas. They shrugged off the near-constant relocation rumours.
Reality hit this week. There will be a new owner. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith is expected to buy the franchise from current owner Alex Meruelo in a $1.2 billion deal through the NHL, as early as Thursday.
The team is moving. The deal, once signed and approved by the NHL board of governors, will turn over the franchise’s hockey operations to Smith, who intends to move it to Salt Lake City.
There could be a new arena — eventually. Meruelo had been pursuing a tract of land in north Phoenix to build it. When delays pushed the land auction until June, the NHL and the players’ association got cold feet about continuing to play at Mullett Arena, the loud-but-bandboxsized venue shared with Arizona State University.
Meruelo was adamant about not selling the team despite constant offers since he bought in 2019, but also didn’t want the players stuck playing in a 5,000seat arena — by far the NHL’s smallest — that wasn’t up to league standards.
With no guarantee he would have an arena and with no other options, Meruelo agreed to sell the franchise.
The caveat: Arizona will get an expansion team if a new arena is built within five years.
A small light at the end of what will likely be a very long tunnel, but with far more darkness than hope.
“It’s been a hard 20-25 years, not knowing where home is going to be,” said Coyotes rookie Josh Doan, who grew up in the Valley during his father Shane’s long tenure as Coyotes’ captain. “It’s one of those things where you want to send them off on the right note and get the win tonight for them.”
Matthews stays at 69
TAMPA, Florida — Auston Matthews fired 12 shots on net and chimed another off the crossbar.
The Maple Leafs sniper looking to become the first NHL player to score 70 goals in more than three decades, came up just short.
Matthews was held in check for the second straight night Wednesday in a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, finishing the schedule with an eye-popping 69 goals in 81 games.