The Arizona Coyotes are relocating to Salt Lake City starting next season after decades of financial struggles and failed arena plans, officially marking the end of the franchise in Arizona.

By the Numbers
  • The Coyotes made the playoffs in six of their first seven seasons in Phoenix but have been one of the NHL's weakest teams in the past two decades, except for a brief period of success between 2010 and 2012.
  • Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leader in goals and assists, spent four years as the Coyotes' head coach between 2005 and 2009 without much playoff success.
State of Play
  • The Coyotes will play out of the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, home of the NBA's Jazz, which will undergo renovations to accommodate NHL games.
  • Coyotes forward Liam O'Brien expressed mixed emotions about the relocation, highlighting the uncertainty faced by the business and marketing staff who are likely to face layoffs.
What's Next

The Coyotes' existing hockey assets have been acquired by Ryan and Ashley Smith for $1.2 billion, with plans to rebrand the team in Utah and potentially re-establish the franchise in Arizona in the future.

Bottom Line

The relocation of the Coyotes to Utah signals the end of a tumultuous era in Arizona and raises questions about the future of the franchise under new ownership in Salt Lake City, while leaving the door open for a potential return to Arizona in the long term.