One of the intriguing stories in the NHL revolves around the uncertain future of the Arizona Coyotes. The team has faced numerous challenges, including playing in the unconventional setting of Arizona State University's "mullet arena" due to the city's reluctance to lease a professional venue.
This move seems like a clear attempt to distance the city from the struggling team. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, despite persistent challenges, has been adamant about keeping hockey in Arizona, leading to the recent embarrassing arena situation. Now, as reported by Seravalli on the Daily Faceoff, there are indications that the NHL is ready to part ways with the Coyotes.
This development is noteworthy, considering the NHL's historical leniency in addressing the Coyotes' issues. The imminent deadline suggests a potential end to the Arizona Coyotes existence as an NHL franchise.
The big question now is what plan the Coyotes could devise, given their recent setback with the Tempe arena proposal. Even that plan was rejected due to its proximity to the airport. It appears that, regardless of their efforts, the Coyotes remain the outlier in Arizona's business landscape. While there's hope they can navigate through these challenges, the possibility of moving on from hockey in the desert is becoming increasingly likely.
