NHL nearing official deal to relocate Arizona Coyotes

Just days after the Coyotes announced their bid to win a land auction and construct an arena in Phoenix, Seravalli is reporting that Coyotes ownership is nearing a deal with an owner in Utah to send the team to Sal Lake City. Now, even the players have been informed, and earlier today the next NHL schedule was designed around a team in Utah.

As Seravalli included, there's plenty of work to be done before this deal is even close to being completed - but the quick emergence of Utah as an NHL destination proves how serious they are about this happening quickly. For the NHL, the move makes complete sense considering Utah owner Ryan Smith has a commercial venue and an accompanying NBA team.

The Arizona Coyotes couldn't keep up the charade of playing in a university sized arena, and it seems many of the league's powers agreed. Relocating the team to an NHL quality arena in Salt Lake City will be an incredible move for the league. Bettman and the NHL held on far too long and gave them too many chances, but the ownership group in Arizona never proved themselves to be competent - and relocation became the only option.