Editing Arizona Coyotes (section)

==History==

===Original Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)===
{{Main|Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)}}
[[File:Dean Kennedy.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Two hockey players on the ice and a referee in the background|The franchise played in Winnipeg as the Jets from 1972 to 1996. They were originally members of the WHA before joining the NHL in 1979. Pictured is [[Dean Kennedy]].]]
The team began play as the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]], one of the founding franchises in the [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA). The Jets were the most successful team in the short-lived WHA, winning the [[Avco World Trophy]], the league's championship trophy, three times and making the finals five out of the WHA's seven seasons. It then became one of the four teams admitted to the NHL as part of a [[NHL-WHA merger|merger]] when the financially struggling WHA folded in 1979.

However, the club was never able to translate its WHA success into the NHL after the merger. The merger's terms allowed the established NHL teams to reclaim most of the players that had jumped to the upstart league, and the Jets lost most of their best players in the ensuing reclamation draft. As a result, they finished last in the NHL during their first two seasons, including a nine-win season in [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]] that is still the worst in franchise history. However, they recovered fairly quickly, making the playoffs 11 times in the next 15 seasons, but the Jets only won two playoff series, largely because they were in the same division as the powerful [[Edmonton Oilers]] and [[Calgary Flames]]. Because of the way the playoffs were structured for much of their Winnipeg run, the team was all but assured of having to defeat either the Oilers or the Flames (or both) to reach the conference finals. In [[1984–85 NHL season|1984–85]], for instance, they finished with the fourth-best record in the NHL with 96 points, at the time their best as an NHL team. However, they were swept by the Oilers in the division finals. [[1986–87 NHL season|Two seasons later]], they dispatched the Flames in the first round, only to be swept again by the Oilers in the division finals. The franchise did not win another playoff series for 25 years.

The Jets ran into financial trouble when player salaries began spiralling up in the 1990s; this hit the Canadian teams particularly hard. Winnipeg was the second-smallest market in the NHL for most of the Jets' existence and became the smallest after the [[Quebec Nordiques]] moved to [[Denver]] in 1995 to become the [[Colorado Avalanche]]. In addition, the club's home arena, [[Winnipeg Arena]], was one of the smallest in the league, seating just under 15,400 people. It was over 40 years old and had no luxury suites. Despite strong fan support, owner Barry Shenkarow was forced to put the team on the market. Several attempts to keep the team in Winnipeg fell through.

===Relocation to Phoenix===
In October 1995, Minnesota businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke purchased the team with plans to move it to [[Minneapolis–St. Paul]], which had lost the [[Minnesota North Stars]] in 1993, for the [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97 season]]. However, in December, after they were unable to secure a lease at Minneapolis' [[Target Center]], they opted to move the Jets to Phoenix, instead. Minnesota was ultimately awarded an [[expansion team]] in 1997, the [[Minnesota Wild]].

After the franchise considered "Mustangs", "Outlaws", "Wranglers", and "Freeze", a name-the-team contest yielded the official name "Coyotes".<ref>{{Cite web|title=NHL team nicknames explained|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-team-nickname-origins-explained/c-283976168|access-date=October 24, 2021|website=NHL.com}}</ref> At the time, the name was largely seen as play on the ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' character Wile E. Coyote of ''[[Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner]]'', since Phoenix was home to several minor league teams and [[Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)|one short-lived WHA team]] called the [[Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)|Phoenix Roadrunners]], including an [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] (IHL) [[Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL)|team that was playing there]] in 1996. However, "Coyotes" was considered suitable in any case since the coyote is endemic to the whole of Arizona, unlike the [[roadrunner]], which is only found in the southern and western regions of the state. The Roadrunners only played one more season before leaving Phoenix; however, the Coyotes later revived the "Roadrunners" nickname for their [[American Hockey League]] affiliate, the [[Tucson Roadrunners]].

===Early years in Phoenix (1996–2005)===
In the summer, the team added established superstar [[Jeremy Roenick]] from the [[Chicago Blackhawks]], in exchange for trading [[Alexei Zhamnov]]. Roenick teamed up with power wingers [[Keith Tkachuk]] and [[Rick Tocchet]] to form a dynamic 1–2–3 offensive punch that led the Coyotes through their first years in Arizona. Also impressive were young players like [[Shane Doan]] (he eventually was the last remaining player from the team's days in Winnipeg), [[Oleg Tverdovsky]], and goaltender [[Nikolai Khabibulin]], whom the fans nicknamed the "Bulin Wall".

[[File:ShaneDoan.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Doan skating, wearing hockey gear and holding a stick|upright|[[Shane Doan]] was team captain from 2003 to 2017. Holding the franchise record for games played, he was the last Coyotes player to have also played in Winnipeg for the original Jets.]]
Another key addition to the squad was veteran forward [[Mike Gartner]], who had joined from the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. Despite his experience and scoring [[List of NHL players with 700 goals|his 700th career goal]] on December 15, 1997, Gartner battled injuries in the latter half of the 1997–98 season. The Coyotes did not renew his contract and he retired at the end of the season. After arriving in Phoenix, the team posted six consecutive .500 or better seasons, making the playoffs in every year but one. The one time they did not make the playoffs, in [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]], they became the first team to earn 90 points and miss the playoffs.

The Coyotes' original home, [[America West Arena]], was suboptimal for hockey. Although considered a state-of-the-art arena when built for the Phoenix Suns, it was designed specifically as a basketball venue, with sight lines optimized for the smaller playing surface of that sport, and not with hockey in mind. The floor was just barely large enough to fit a standard NHL rink, forcing the Coyotes to hastily re-engineer it to accommodate the 200-foot rink. The configuration left a portion of one end of the upper deck hanging ''over'' the boards and ice, obscuring almost a third of the rink and one goal from several sections. As a result, listed capacity had to be cut down from over 18,000 seats to just over 16,000 – the second-smallest in the league at the time – after the first season.

Burke bought out Gluckstern in 1998 but was unable to attract more investors to alleviate the team's financial woes. In 2001, Burke sold the team to Phoenix-area developer Steve Ellman, with [[Wayne Gretzky]] as a part-owner and head of hockey operations.

The closest that they came to advancing past the first round during their first decade in Arizona was during the [[1999 Stanley Cup playoffs|1999 playoffs]]. After building a 3–1 series lead, the Coyotes fell in overtime of game 7 on a goal by [[Pierre Turgeon]] of the [[St. Louis Blues]]. In [[2001–02 NHL season|2002]], the Coyotes posted 95 points, one point behind their best total as an NHL team while in Winnipeg, but went down rather meekly to the [[San Jose Sharks]] in five games.

From then until the 2007–08 season, the Coyotes were barely competitive and managed to break the 80-point barrier only once during that time. Attendance levels dropped considerably, worrying many NHL executives. In addition, an unfavorable arena lease at city-owned America West Arena had the team suffering massive financial losses<ref>{{cite book |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |title=Hockey Chronicles |year=2001 |publisher=Checkmark Books |location=New York City |isbn=0-8160-4697-2 |display-authors=etal |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/hockeychronicles00tren |access-date=March 23, 2025}}</ref> (as much as $40 million a year at one point);<ref name="Burnside">{{cite web |last1=Burnside |first1=Scott |title=Balsillie again takes wrong approach |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=4146131 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=January 12, 2024 |date=May 6, 2009}}</ref> the Coyotes have yet to recover from the resulting financial problems.

Ellman put forward numerous proposals to improve the hockey sightlines in America West Arena in hopes of boosting capacity back over the 17,000 mark. However, none of these got beyond the planning stages, leading Ellman to commit to building a new arena. After nearly three years of proposals to build an arena on the former [[Los Arcos Mall]] in [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]] and having difficulty financing the purchase of the Coyotes and finishing demolition of Los Arcos, along with infighting in the Scottsdale City Council, Ellman looked toward the West Valley, and in December 2003, the team moved into Glendale Arena (which then became known as [[Jobing.com Arena]] during the [[2006–07 NHL season]]). Simultaneously, the team changed its logo and uniforms, moving from the multi-colored kit to a more streamlined look. In 2005, Ellman sold the Coyotes, the [[National Lacrosse League]]'s [[Arizona Sting]] and the lease to Gila River Arena to trucking magnate [[Jerry Moyes]], who was also a part-owner of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].

===Gretzky era (2005–2009)===
On August 6, 2005, [[Brett Hull]], son of former Jet [[Bobby Hull]], was signed and promptly assigned the elder Hull's retired number 9. Two days later, Gretzky named himself head coach, replacing [[Rick Bowness]], despite the fact he had never coached at any level of hockey. The Coyotes "Ring of Honor" was unveiled on October 8, inducting Gretzky (who had never played for the organization, but whose number 99 was retired by all NHL teams after his retirement in 1999) and Bobby Hull. Only a week later, Brett Hull announced his retirement. On January 21, 2006, Jets great [[Thomas Steen]] was the third inductee to the "Ring of Honor".

[[File:Martin Hanzal.jpg|thumb|alt=Hanzal holding up his stick and touching his cheek|left|upright|Drafted in 2005, Martin Hanzal was with the team from 2007 to 2017.]]
Another moment in a series of bad luck: the Coyotes were planning to host the 2006 [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]], but the event was canceled because of the [[2006 Winter Olympics]]. The team returned to [[Winnipeg]] on September 17, 2006, to play a preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers, but were shut-out 5–0 before a sellout crowd of 15,015.

On April 11, 2007, chief executive officer Jeff Shumway announced that General Manager [[Mike Barnett (ice hockey)|Michael Barnett]] (Gretzky's agent for over 20 years), senior executive vice president of hockey operations [[Cliff Fletcher]] and [[San Antonio Rampage]]'s general manager and Coyotes' assistant general manager Laurence Gilman "have been relieved of their duties". The Coyotes finished the 2006–07 season 31–46–5, their worst record since relocating to Phoenix.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coyotes turf GM Barnett after losing season |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/coyotes-turf-gm-barnett-after-losing-season-1.667803 |website=CBC Sports |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=April 11, 2007}}</ref> On May 29, Jeff Shumway announced [[Don Maloney]] had agreed to a multi-year contract to become general manager of the Coyotes. As per club policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Don Maloney named Coyotes GM |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/don-maloney-named-coyotes-gm-1.676534 |website=CBC Sports |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=May 28, 2007}}</ref> However, as had been the case with all general managers since 2001, Maloney served in an advisory role to Gretzky.

The 2007–08 season was something of a resurgence for the Coyotes. After their disastrous 2006–07 campaign, the Coyotes looked to rebuild the team by relying on their drafted talent such as [[Peter Mueller (ice hockey)|Peter Mueller]] and [[Martin Hanzal]] to make the team successful as opposed to using free agency. The Coyotes also acquired [[Radim Vrbata]] from the Chicago Blackhawks for [[Kevyn Adams]] in an effort to provide the team with more offense. The team signed both [[Alex Auld]] and [[David Aebischer]] to compete for the starting goaltender position with [[Mikael Tellqvist]] acting as the backup goaltender. Neither Auld or Aebischer were able to hold on to the starting position, leaving the Coyotes to turn to the waiver wire for assistance. On November 17, 2007, the Coyotes were able to claim [[Ilya Bryzgalov]] off waivers from the [[Anaheim Ducks]]. Bryzgalov responded by not only starting in goal the day he was acquired but posting a shutout in his Coyotes debut against the [[Los Angeles Kings]]. Bryzgalov was soon given a three-year contract extension because of his high level of play. Despite predictions of another disastrous season, the Coyotes played competitive hockey for most of the season. However, they finished eight points short of the last playoff spot, with 83 points.

===Return to the playoffs and division title (2009–2012)===
On September 24, 2009, [[Dave Tippett]] took over coaching duties of the Phoenix Coyotes after Wayne Gretzky stepped down hours before. In just 61 games, Tippett led the Coyotes to more wins in their 2009–10 regular season (37) than their previous season (36), en route to the first 50-win season in the franchise's NHL history.

[[File:Dave Tippett Coyotes practice.jpg|thumb|alt=Tippett on the ice wearing a pullover|upright|left|Named head coach in September 2009, Dave Tippett led the Coyotes to their first division championship and three consecutive playoffs. Tippett left the Coyotes in 2017.]]
On March 27, 2010, the Coyotes clinched a playoff spot, their first playoff spot since the 2001–02 season, and in the process, reached the 100-point mark for the first time ever as an NHL team, and the first time overall since the 1977–78 (WHA) Jets scored 102 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009021119|title=Coyotes reach the 100-point mark by routing avs|access-date=March 28, 2010|first=Brown |last=Jerry |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |date=March 28, 2010}}</ref> They finished with 107 points, the highest point total in the franchise's 38-year history. This was good enough for fourth overall in the NHL, tying the 1984–85 Jets for the franchise's highest finish as an NHL team. They also qualified for the fourth seed in the Western Conference, giving them a home-ice advantage in the first round for the first time since 1985.

Their first round opponent in the [[2010 Stanley Cup playoffs]] were the [[Detroit Red Wings]]. Game 1 of the series was the first NHL playoff game to be played in Gila River Arena. However, an injury to Shane Doan sidelined him for most of the series, and the defending conference champion Red Wings defeated the Coyotes in seven games.

The Coyotes again faced Detroit in the first round of the [[2011 Stanley Cup playoffs|2011 playoffs]], losing the series in four games.

On April 7, 2012, the Coyotes defeated the [[Minnesota Wild]] 4–1 to win the [[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific Division]] title – their first and only division title as an NHL team (in Winnipeg or Phoenix).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011021226|title=Coyotes clinch Pacific with 4–1 win|access-date=April 7, 2012|first=Dan |last=Myers |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |date=April 7, 2012}}</ref> This gave them the third seed in the West, and with it home-ice advantage in a playoff series for only the third time in franchise history. In the first round, they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, the franchise's first playoff series win since 1987. The first five games went to overtime, tying a record when the [[Montreal Canadiens]] and Toronto Maple Leafs did it in the [[1951 Stanley Cup Finals]]. They faced the [[Nashville Predators]] in the second round, winning the first two games and the series 4–1. However, in the conference finals, the Coyotes fell to the Los Angeles Kings (who eventually went on to win the Cup that year) in game five of a 4–1 series.

====2009 bankruptcy and attempts to sell the team====
{{Main|Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy and sale}}
In December 2008, the media became aware the Coyotes were suffering massive losses and that the NHL was paying the team's bills. The media reports were minimized by NHL commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] and vice president Bill Daly. However, Moyes had secretly given operational control of the team to the league. In May 2009, Moyes put the team into bankruptcy hours before Bettman was to present him an offer to sell the team to [[Chicago Bulls]] and [[Chicago White Sox]] owner [[Jerry Reinsdorf]]. Moyes intended to sell the team to [[Canadians|Canadian]] billionaire [[Jim Balsillie]], who in turn intended to purchase the team out of bankruptcy and move it to [[Hamilton, Ontario]]. The NHL responded by stripping Moyes of his remaining ownership authority.

From May until September 2009, hearings were held in Phoenix bankruptcy court to determine the fate of the Coyotes and the holding company. Two potential bidders for the team surfaced, Reinsdorf and Ice Edge Holdings, but they did not submit a bid for the team. Instead, the NHL put in the only rival bid to Balsillie for the team, while it contended the Moyes–Balsillie deal violated NHL rules. The bankruptcy court voided the planned sale to Balsillie, accepting the NHL's argument that bankruptcy could not be used to circumvent NHL rules. The NHL's bid was also declared insufficient, but the judge left the window open to an improved bid. Moyes and the NHL settled, with the NHL purchasing the team and assuming all debts. The NHL negotiated a temporary lease with the City of Glendale, which owns Gila River Arena.

The NHL then negotiated with Reinsdorf and Ice Edge toward a deal with Glendale. Ice Edge signed a letter of intent to purchase the team from the NHL, while Reinsdorf had won the approval of the City of Glendale. On May 7, 2010, ESPN.com reported the Reinsdorf bid had fallen apart and that the City of Glendale was working with Ice Edge to purchase the team in a last-ditch effort to keep them in Arizona. The ''[[National Post]]'' criticized both bids, as they were conditional on municipal taxpayers covering any losses the Coyotes might incur, and suggested that keeping the team in Phoenix was never economically viable.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McDowell |first1=Adam |title=Moving the Phoenix Coyotes to Canada — a timeline |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/moving-phoenix-coyotes-to-canada-a-timeline |website=National Post |access-date=March 23, 2025 |date=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

In July 2010, the Ice Edge bid collapsed because it did not satisfy Glendale's financial conditions. Ice Edge decided to concentrate on an effort to purchase a minor league team. The City of Glendale had to step in and guarantee the team's losses for 2010–11 as a precondition of the NHL not transferring the franchise. A consortium of investors led by Chicago investor Matt Hulsizer then reached a deal to purchase the Coyotes from the NHL along with a lease agreement with Glendale. However, the Hulsizer deal collapsed in late June 2011 at least in part because of a threatened suit by the [[Goldwater Institute]] over the legality of payments that Glendale was to make to Hulsizer before the consortium bought the team. The threat of the suit may have prevented the sale of bonds to finance the payments. The team only stayed in the Phoenix area for the 2011–12 season after another $25 million payment by the City of Glendale.

Also in 2011, former Coyotes bidders [[True North Sports and Entertainment]] purchased the [[Atlanta Thrashers]] and moved them to Winnipeg, thus ending any possibility that the Coyotes would return to Manitoba. As part of the transaction, the NHL agreed to transfer the Jets' name, logos, and related trademarks from the league-owned Coyotes to True North and the Thrashers thus becoming the "new" [[Winnipeg Jets]]. However, the original Jets' history remains with the Coyotes organization.

The [[2012–13 NHL lockout]] provided another opportunity for the Coyotes to find a potential owner and avoid relocation while the NHL suspended team operations during the labor dispute. A deal to former San Jose Sharks owner Greg Jamison had been drafted just as the lockout ended, but failed to be finalized and fulfilled by January 31, 2013. The deal would have kept the Coyotes in Phoenix for the next 20 years relying on a taxpayer subsidy, according to the agreement. It would also have had "Phoenix" dropped from the name and instead used "Arizona".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397652|title=Prospective Coyotes Owner To Get $15M/Year to Manage Arena|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608034919/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397652|archive-date=June 8, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

California investment executive [[Darin Pastor]] also submitted a bid to purchase the Coyotes. His bid proposed to keep the team in the Glendale area while engaging young hockey players in the region through school partnerships and scholarship efforts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2013/05/10/darin-pastor-submits-bid-to-nhl-to-buy.html?page=all |title=Darin Pastor submits bid to NHL to buy Phoenix Coyotes – Phoenix Business Journal |work=The Business Journals |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> The NHL rejected Pastor's bid on May 13, 2013, citing the bid was "inconsistent with what we had previously indicated were the minimum prerequisites" of a bid.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL rejects Pastor's bid to purchase Coyotes |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/nhl-rejects-pastors-bid-to-purchase-coyotes |website=FOX Sports |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=May 13, 2013}}</ref>

===New ownership and the Arizona Coyotes (2013–2024)===
[[File:David Moss (12184171244).jpg|thumb|alt=Moss wearing Coyotes gear|[[David Moss (ice hockey)|David Moss]] during the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]]. He scored the club's final goal under the Phoenix moniker on April 13, 2014. The club was renamed the Arizona Coyotes the next season.]]
Because the team had been in bankruptcy since 2009 and lost revenue each year, the NHL planned to move the Coyotes should a deal with the city for a new lease and new ownership not be decided by July 2, 2013. The plan was to move the franchise to a new city, likely [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mynorthwest.com/11/2299943/NHL-closer-to-Seattle-Deal-to-keep-Coyotes-in-Phoenix-hits-potential-snag |title=NHL closer to Seattle? Deal to keep Coyotes in Phoenix hits 'potential snag' – Local |publisher=MyNorthwest.com |date=June 20, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> On July 2, 2013, by a vote of 4–3, the Glendale City Council approved a 15-year lease agreement with Renaissance Sports and Entertainment (RSE), which purchased the team from the NHL for US$225 million by August 5, 2013.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/9446934/glendale-ariz-city-council-ratifies-phoenix-coyotes-arena-lease-agreement |title=Glendale, Ariz., city council ratifies Phoenix Coyotes arena lease agreement |work=ESPN |date=July 3, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> The members of the Canadian group were executive chairman and governor George Gosbee; president, chief executive officer and alternate governor Anthony LeBlanc; alternate governor Craig Stewart; and directors Gary J. Drummond, W. David Duckett, William "Bill" Dutton, Robert Gwin, Scott Saxberg and Richard Walter. RSE partnered with Global Spectrum (owners of the [[Philadelphia Flyers]]) for help in managing Gila River Arena. The agreement had the City of Glendale giving RSE US$15 million per year for management fees. There was a clause stipulating RSE could relocate the team after five years if it accrued US$50 million in losses.<ref name=":0" />

On January 29, 2014, the new ownership group announced that the team would change its name to the "Arizona Coyotes" for the 2014–15 season. According to Coyotes club president Anthony LeBlanc, the change was made to reflect the fact the team is no longer located within Phoenix city limits and to include all hockey fans in the state of Arizona. Aside from a new shoulder patch, the team's uniform design did not change.<ref name="Arizona">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=702889|title=Phoenix Coyotes franchise to become Arizona Coyotes for 2014–15|date=January 29, 2014|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> The name officially changed on June 27.<ref name="teamnamechange">{{cite news|title=Team Name Will Change to Arizona Coyotes at NHL Entry Draft on June 27|url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/team-name-will-change-to-arizona-coyotes-at-nhl-entry-draft-on-june-27/c-723498|website=ArizonaCoyotes.com|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210231838/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/team-name-will-change-to-arizona-coyotes-at-nhl-entry-draft-on-june-27/c-723498|archive-date=December 10, 2017}}</ref>

Following the conclusion of the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], it was reported that lackluster revenue from parking and non-hockey events enabled the City of Glendale to recoup just $4.4 million, which was significantly less than the $6.8 million the city expected to receive back from sources including parking receipts, ticket sales, and naming rights for the arena.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2014/05/27/coyotes-deal-glendale-will-come-short/9654953/ |title=Phoenix Coyotes deal with Glendale will come up short |work=The Arizona Republic |date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref>

On June 4, 2014, it was reported that a [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], public-relations firm had sued IceArizona, the owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, alleging the NHL club had reneged on a sponsorship deal worth nearly $250,000. A Coyotes spokesman responded to this issue by calling it a "quarter-million-dollar scheme".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2014/06/03/coyotes-owner-sued-deal/9942991/ |title=Phoenix Coyotes owner sued by Scottsdale PR firm |work=The Arizona Republic |date=June 4, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> By October, IceArizona entered a deal to sell a 51% controlling interest in the Coyotes to [[Philadelphia]]-based hedge fund manager [[Andrew Barroway]], who had recently failed in his attempt to purchase the [[New York Islanders]].<ref>{{cite web |work=Fox Sports |url=http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/coyotes-agree-to-sell-controlling-interest-to-andrew-barroway-101014 |title=Coyotes agree to sell controlling interest to Andrew Barroway |date=October 10, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> The deal was approved by the NHL Board of Governors on December 31, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Board of Governors approves sale of majority stake in Coyotes|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=746482 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=December 31, 2014}}</ref>

During the [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15 season]], the team finished last in the Pacific Division with the second-worst record in the NHL. On June 10, 2015, Glendale City Council voted to terminate its 15-year, $225 million agreement with the Coyotes. The city claimed "It was entitled to terminate the agreement because two former city employees, Craig Tindall and Julie Frisoni, were involved in securing the deal and later worked for the Coyotes."<ref>{{cite web |title = Judge orders Glendale to pay Coyotes $3.75 million|url = http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2015/06/29/judge-orders-glendale-pay-arizona-coyotes/29478355/|access-date =October 7, 2015}}</ref> On July 23, 2015, it was announced the Coyotes and City Council had agreed on a resolution.<ref name="Glendale agreement">{{cite web |url=http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=775493 |title=Coyotes and City of Glendale Agree on Resolution |publisher=National Hockey League |date=July 23, 2015 |access-date=July 23, 2015 |archive-date=July 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724022300/http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=775493 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="GAII">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/13307716/arizona-coyotes-glendale-reach-resolution-arena-dispute |title=Coyotes, Glendale reach resolution on arena lease dispute |work=ESPN |date=July 23, 2015 |access-date=July 23, 2015}}</ref> On July 24, 2015, the Coyotes announced the City Council had reached a two-year deal.<ref name="GAIII">{{cite web|url=http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=775530|title=Glendale Approves 2-Year Agreement with Coyotes |publisher=National Hockey League |date=July 24, 2015|access-date=July 25, 2015|archive-date=July 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725121827/http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=775530|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the conclusion of the [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16 season]], general manager [[Don Maloney]], who had won [[Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award|General Manager of the Year award]] in 2010, was fired from his position after eight seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2016/04/11/sources-don-maloney-out-arizona-coyotes-gm/82890528/ |title=Sources: Don Maloney out as Arizona Coyotes GM |work= [[The Arizona Republic]] |date=April 11, 2016 |access-date=March 23, 2025}}</ref> The Coyotes replaced Maloney with [[John Chayka]], who, at 26 years of age, became the youngest NHL general manager of all time, being promoted from his position as assistant general manager/analytics within the Coyotes staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=881624 |title=Coyotes Name Chayka as General Manager |publisher=National Hockey League |date=May 5, 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817120520/http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=881624 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2016, [[Dawn Braid]] was hired as the Coyotes' skating coach, making her the first female full-time coach in the NHL.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bieler |first=Des |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/08/24/nhls-first-female-full-time-coach-hired-by-arizona-coyotes/ |title=NHL's first female full-time coach hired by Arizona Coyotes |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref>

On November 14, 2016, the Coyotes announced plans to build a new arena in [[Tempe, Arizona]], which was scheduled to be completed for the 2019–20 NHL season. The project would have included an adjoining 4,000-seat arena to be used for Coyotes practices and as the home for the [[Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey|Arizona State University]] hockey team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coyotes Announce Plans for New East Valley Arena|url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-announce-plans-for-new-east-valley-arena/c-283720238|publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=November 14, 2016|date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115071209/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-announce-plans-for-new-east-valley-arena/c-283720238|archive-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Burnside |first1=Scott |title=Coyotes have agreement on new stadium deal|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/18046991/arizona-coyotes-deal-new-stadium-east-phoenix|work=ESPN |access-date=November 14, 2016|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref> However, the arena project was withdrawn when ASU pulled out of the deal in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/arizona-coyotes-arena-deal-dead-asu-pulls-out-033421590.html |title=Arizona Coyotes arena deal dead, ASU pulls out |first=Greg |last=Wyshynski |work=Puck Daddy |via=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |date=February 3, 2017 |access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref>

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Barroway bought out the rest of the IceArizona ownership group and became the sole owner of the franchise. Following the transfer, former IceArizona chief executive officer [[Anthony LeBlanc]] and the director of hockey operations Gary Drummond both left the organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/19656113/arizona-coyotes-restructure-front-office-andrew-barroway |title=Coyotes CEO Anthony LeBlanc, hockey ops chief Gary Drummond step down |work=ESPN |date=June 16, 2017 |access-date=March 23, 2025}}</ref> On June 19, 2017, the Coyotes opted not to re-sign long-time captain Shane Doan, who had been with the franchise since they were the Winnipeg Jets. The Coyotes left Doan<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/coyotes-parting-ways-with-captain-doan-1.783301|title=Coyotes parting ways with captain Doan |date=June 19, 2017 |work=[[The Sports Network|TSN]] |access-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref> a standing offer to remain with the team in a non-playing role. On June 22, 2017, head coach [[Dave Tippett]] left his positions within the Coyotes after eight seasons,<ref>{{cite web |title=Coyotes and Tippett Part Ways |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-and-tippett-part-ways/c-290078552 |publisher=Arizona Coyotes |access-date=June 23, 2017|date=June 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623090304/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-and-tippett-part-ways/c-290078552|archive-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref> and was succeeded by [[Rick Tocchet]] on July 11, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vest |first1=Dave |title=Tocchet Likes Fit with Coyotes|url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/tocchet-likes-fit-with-coyotes/c-290362704 |publisher=Arizona Coyotes |access-date=July 13, 2017|date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026213623/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/tocchet-likes-fit-with-coyotes/c-290362704|archive-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>

On December 4, 2018, it was announced that the team would move to the [[Central Division (NHL)|Central Division]] in 2021, changing divisions for the second time since relocating to Arizona, as part of a league realignment following the addition of the [[Seattle Kraken]].<ref name="Move to Central in 2021" /> The team previously played in the Central Division for their first two seasons following their relocation from Winnipeg in 1996. On December 20, 2018, the team extended their lease in Gila River Arena through the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arizona Coyotes to stay in Glendale another year, but future uncertain|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2019/01/04/arizona-coyotes-stay-glendale-another-year-future-uncertain-gila-river-arena/2466673002/|last=Fifield|first=Jen|work=The Arizona Republic|publisher=Gannett Company|date=January 4, 2019|access-date=July 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bowling|first=Joshua|title=Coyotes' lease set to renew Jan. 1 as team in negotiations for long-term deal in Glendale|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/glendale/2020/12/31/az-coyotes-lease-set-renew-jan-1-during-talks-long-term-deal/4100051001/|access-date=June 29, 2021|work=The Arizona Republic}}</ref>

On July 29, 2019, Barroway sold controlling interest in the Coyotes to billionaire [[Alex Meruelo]], with Barroway remaining as a minority owner<ref name="MerueloCoyotes">{{cite press release|title=Arizona Coyotes Finalize Sale With New Majority Owner Alex Meruelo|url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/arizona-coyotes-finalize-sale-with-new-majority-owner-alex-meruelo/c-308383532|website=ArizonaCoyotes.com|date=July 29, 2019|access-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207030829/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/arizona-coyotes-finalize-sale-with-new-majority-owner-alex-meruelo/c-308383532|archive-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref> until his arrest, which left Meruelo the sole owner of the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beardsley |first=Chase |date=February 20, 2024 |title=Coyotes Ownership History: A Less-Than Stellar Tale - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/arizona-coyotes-ownership-history/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=The Hockey Writers}}</ref>

During the [[2020 NHL entry draft]], the Coyotes received widespread backlash and criticism for drafting [[Mitchell Miller (ice hockey)|Mitchell Miller]] in the fourth round (111th pick overall), after allegations surfaced that he had bullied and discriminated against an African-American classmate having a learning disability, during high school in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/30/mitchell-miller-bullying-controversy-arizona-coyotes |title=Mitchell Miller: what the NHL bullying uproar shows us about hockey culture |work=The Guardian |last=Ahmed |first=Shireen |date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theathletic.com/2162185/2020/10/27/arizona-coyotes-mitchell-miller-bullying-nhl/ |title='There is a victim out there': Coyotes, NHL knew of Mitchell Miller's ugly past |work=The Athletic |last=Portzline |first=Aaron |date=October 27, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> Soon thereafter, they renounced his draft rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2020/10/29/arizona-coyotes-renounce-rights-controversial-pick-mitchell-miller/6073962002/ |title=Arizona Coyotes cut ties with controversial draft pick Mitchell Miller |last1=Romero |first1=José M. |last2=Harris |first2=Craig |work=The Arizona Republic |date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref>

For the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]-shortened 2020–21 season the Coyotes were placed in the reformed [[West Division (NHL)|West Division]] and played a division-only 56-game schedule.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2021-nhl-season-division-realignment-coronavirus-protocols-stanley-cup-playoffs-dates/ |title=2021 NHL season: Division realignment, coronavirus protocols, Stanley Cup Playoffs dates |last=Blackburn |first=Pete |work=CBS Sports |date=January 13, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> They finished in fifth place with 54 points, outside of the playoffs. After the season, the team and coach Rick Tocchet mutually agreed to part ways.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2021/05/09/coyotes-rick-tocchet-agree-part-ways/5015229001/ |title=Coyotes, Rick Tocchet agree to part ways; search for new coach under way |work=The Arizona Republic |last1=Romero |first1=José M. |date=May 9, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> [[Andre Tourigny]] was hired as head coach of the Coyotes on July 1, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/coyotes-name-andre-tourigny-eighth-head-coach-franchise-history/ |title=Coyotes name Andre Tourigny eighth head coach in franchise history |work=Sportsnet |agency=Associated Press |date=July 1, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Andre Tourigny introduced as Head Coach of the Coyotes.webm|thumb|right|Discussion with [[Andre Tourigny]] shortly after he was named coach of the Coyotes in 2021]]
For the [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]], the Coyotes moved into the Central Division upon the arrival of the Kraken in the [[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific Division]].<ref name="Move to Central in 2021">{{cite web |title=Seattle Awarded National Hockey League's 32nd Franchise |url=https://media.nhl.com/public/news/12481 |publisher=National Hockey League |date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref> In the [[2021 NHL entry draft]], the Coyotes would select [[Josh Doan]], son of former Coyotes player [[Shane Doan]]; Josh would later play with the Coyotes in 2024. On August 19, 2021, the city of Glendale and the Gila River Arena chose to not renew their operating agreement with the Coyotes beyond the 2021–22 season,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc15.com/sports/city-of-glendale-decides-not-to-renew-operations-agreement-with-arizona-coyotes |title=City of Glendale decides not to renew operations agreement with Arizona Coyotes |work=ABC 15 Arizona |date=August 19, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> as the team's lease had been renewed each year since 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Glendale terminating Arizona Coyotes' Gila River Arena lease after 2021–22 season|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32051882/city-glendale-terminating-arizona-coyotes-gila-arena-lease-2021-22-season|last=Kaplan|first=Emily|work=ESPN|date=August 19, 2021|access-date=August 23, 2021}}</ref> The franchise entered negotiations with [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]] to develop a new arena on an old solid waste compost yard,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://azpbs.org/horizon/2021/07/the-arizona-coyotes-hockey-team-plans-to-move-to-tempe/ |title=The Arizona Coyotes hockey team plans to move to Tempe |work=Arizona PBS |date=July 28, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> but the terrain had problems regarding [[environmental remediation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/08/02/coyotes-proposed-land-remediation-costs/ |title=Environmental remediation costs present challenge for Coyotes' proposed Tempe arena site |work=Cronkite News |last=Greenstein |first=Henry |date=August 2, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> On September 3, they submitted a proposal to build a new arena in Tempe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/2800082/arizona-coyotes-submit-bid-to-build-new-arena-in-tempe/|title=Arizona Coyotes submit bid to build new arena in Tempe |website=Arizona Sports |last=Rice |first=Willis |date=September 3, 2021 |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Mullett Arena From the East End.jpg|thumb|alt=A hockey rink with seats sparsely filled|Coyotes and the [[New York Rangers]] warm up prior to a game at [[Mullett Arena]], October 2022]]
On December 8, 2021, the Coyotes were informed that they would be locked out of [[Gila River Arena]] on December 20, 2021, if they did not pay $1.3 million owed in taxes, including $250,000 to the City of Glendale. The team paid the bills the next day, citing "unfortunate human error" as the cause of the issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/coyotes-facing-eviction-from-arena-1.6279099|title=Arizona Coyotes pay overdue bills to avoid arena eviction|first=John|last=Marshall|date=December 9, 2021 |agency=Associated Press |work=CBC Sports |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] |access-date=March 23, 2025}}</ref> In late January 2022, the Coyotes were in talks with [[Arizona State University]] (ASU) to use their new 5,000-seat arena as a temporary home arena for the next few years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report: Coyotes working on a deal to play at the 5,000-seat arena at ASU |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/report-coyotes-working-deal-play-5000-seat-arena-asu/|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=Sportsnet}}</ref> On February 10, 2022, the Coyotes signed a three-year agreement to play their games at [[Mullett Arena]], starting with the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/arizona-coyotes--arizona-state-university-announce-agreement-that-will-allow-coyotes-to-play-at-asus-new-multi-purpose-arena-next-season/c-330674434 |title=Coyotes to Play at ASU's Multi-Purpose Arena Next Season |access-date=March 23, 2025 |publisher=Arizona Coyotes |date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309135613/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/arizona-coyotes--arizona-state-university-announce-agreement-that-will-allow-coyotes-to-play-at-asus-new-multi-purpose-arena-next-season/c-330674434 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> On April 29, 2022, the Coyotes played their final home game at the Gila River Arena against the [[Nashville Predators]], with a 5–4 comeback win. On October 28, 2022, the Coyotes would make their debut in the [[Mullett Arena]], which sold out to a crowd of 4,600 people that day, in a 3–2 overtime loss to the current [[Winnipeg Jets]] franchise, with [[Christian Fischer]] scoring the first two goals of the franchise at the arena for that game.

====Asset transfer to Utah and suspension of operations====
{{see also|Utah Mammoth}}
A proposal by the Coyotes to build a [[New Tempe Arena|new arena in Tempe]] was rejected by residents of the city on May 16, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=Coyotes' arena plan in Tempe rejected by voters; future cloudy |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37666891/coyotes-arena-plan-tempe-rejected-voters-future-cloudy |work=ESPN |access-date=May 17, 2023 |date=May 16, 2023}}</ref> The arena was estimated to cost $2.1 billion, with $1.9 billion of the cost privately funded. Despite speculation on immediate relocation, the team remained in Arizona, playing at Mullett Arena during the [[2023–24 NHL season]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=NHL: Coyotes to play at ASU despite no vote |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37671200/nhl-coyotes-play-asu-no-vote |work=ESPN |access-date=May 17, 2023 |date=May 17, 2023}}</ref> The Coyotes spoke with the city of [[Mesa, Arizona|Mesa]] about a potential arena at the [[Fiesta Mall]] site, but that plan was ultimately rejected for unknown reasons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Welch |first1=Dennis |title=Sources: Arizona Coyotes consider former site of Fiesta Mall in Mesa for sports arena |url=https://www.azfamily.com/2023/05/18/sources-arizona-coyotes-consider-former-site-fiesta-mall-mesa-sports-arena/ |website=azfamily.com |access-date=May 18, 2023 |date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, Scottsdale mayor David Ortega announced his opposition to a Coyotes' proposal, which planned an arena in northern Phoenix near the border of Scottsdale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradley |first=Ben |title=Scottsdale mayor opposes Arizona Coyotes' 'fantasy' arena location in north Phoenix |url=https://www.azfamily.com/2024/04/08/scottsdale-mayor-opposes-arizona-coyotes-fantasy-arena-location-north-phoenix/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=azfamily.com |date=March 29, 2024}}</ref> Following this, the Coyotes initially stated on social media their commitment to keeping the team in Arizona.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=ArizonaCoyotes |number=1778141750311436348 |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Committed to keeping Coyotes Hockey in the desert & building an arena in Phoenix. |access-date=April 13, 2024}}</ref> They announced that the ownership was intent on winning a land auction for {{convert|110|acre}} of state-owned land between [[Scottsdale Road]] and [[Loop 101]] in Phoenix to build an arena.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-state-land-auction-privately-funded-arena-2024|title=Coyotes Announce Commitment to Win State Land Auction & Build Privately Funded Arena & Entertainment District|access-date=March 23, 2025|publisher=Arizona Coyotes|date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408195336/https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-state-land-auction-privately-funded-arena-2024|archive-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> However, the auction had been delayed from January to June 2024, which likely played a part into the ownership's final decision with the franchise near the end of the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline for potential Coyotes land deal raising concern amid already drawn-out process|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/02/08/arizona-coyotes-hunt-for-new-arena|access-date=March 23, 2025|publisher=Sports Business Journal|date=February 8, 2024}}</ref>

On April 10, 2024, it was reported that, with the NHL's permission, the Coyotes were making efforts to relocate to [[Salt Lake City|Salt Lake City, Utah]], following concerns about an indefinite timeframe for finding a new arena and the effects of continued play at Mullett Arena, in the interim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39966564/coyotes-bid-arizona-farewell-bittersweet-win-oilers|title=Coyotes bid Arizona farewell with bittersweet win over Oilers|date=April 17, 2024|access-date=April 18, 2024|website=ESPN.com |quote=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-bandbox-sized venue shared with Arizona State University. Meruelo was adamant about not selling the team despite constant offers since he bought it in 2019, but he also didn't want the players stuck playing in a 5,000-seat arena – by far the NHL's smallest – that wasn't up to league standards in the long-term period. With no guarantee that he would have an arena in the state of Arizona and with no other options, Meruelo agreed to sell the franchise.|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418113538/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39966564/coyotes-bid-arizona-farewell-bittersweet-win-oilers |archive-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> This led to the NHL buying the franchise then reselling it to [[Ryan Smith (businessman)|Ryan Smith]], owner of the [[Utah Jazz]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA), for a reported $1.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Elliotte |title=NHL, Arizona Coyotes preparing for possible relocation to Utah |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/nhl-arizona-coyotes-preparing-for-possible-relocation-to-utah/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=April 13, 2024 |date=April 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Report: NHL, Coyotes make progress on framework for Utah relocation |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/report-nhl-preparing-two-scenarios-for-coyotes-future-including-utah-move/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=April 13, 2024 |date=April 10, 2024}}</ref> Of that payment, $1 billion went to Coyotes owner [[Alex Meruelo]] for the sale (with Meruelo agreeing to refund the money to the NHL as an expansion fee should his efforts to locate a new home for the franchise succeed) and $200 million went to the NHL's other 31 owners, as the equivalent of a relocation fee. The Utah team will play its home games at the Jazz's home arena, the [[Delta Center]]. Renovations will be required to make it the team's permanent home, similar to the renovations made to [[Climate Pledge Arena]] before the Kraken began play in the NHL two seasons prior.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Emily |last2=Wyshynski|first2=Greg|title=Coyotes could relocate to Salt Lake City as part of NHL plan |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39915208/coyotes-relocate-salt-lake-city-part-nhl-plan |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 15, 2024 |date=April 10, 2024}}</ref>

On April 12, 2024, ahead of a 3–2 overtime win against the [[Edmonton Oilers]] at [[Rogers Place]], general manager Bill Armstrong officially disclosed the news of the team's impending sale and relocation to Coyotes players and staff. Five days later, on April 17, the Coyotes played their final game at Mullett Arena, and ultimately their last game before deactivation, against the same Oilers team. With the fans engaging in one last Whiteout (and audibly heard chanting phrases such as "Salt Lake sucks" and "we love you Coyotes" throughout the game), the Coyotes won 5–2, with [[Sean Durzi]] scoring the final goal of the team's first incarnation, into an [[Empty net goal|empty net]]. Amongst the events of the game, Shane Doan was given his retirement banner (which had been lost by the team in the move to Mullett Arena but had been rediscovered by a local fan), and following the end of the game the fans gave the outgoing team a standing ovation, and the players, in turn, spent over an hour afterward on the ice giving away team apparel and equipment (also signing a majority of the fan gifts), as well as taking a final team picture on the ice and taking turns hugging and thanking longtime equipment manager Stan Wilson, who had moved with the team from Winnipeg in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coyotes give fans a win in final Arizona game, fans show plenty of love |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2024/04/17/coyotes-fans-create-unique-atmosphere-in-last-game-at-mullett-arena/73253893007/|access-date=April 18, 2024 |date=April 17, 2024 |website=azcentral.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Alan |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-arizona-coyotes-game-recap-april-17 |title=Guenther's 2 points help Coyotes defeat Oilers |website=NHL.com |date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> The following day, the sale and relocation was officially approved, and the team was officially deactivated until further notice.

It subsequently emerged that the Utah club was considered an expansion team, not a relocated Coyotes team. In a deal that effectively split the Coyotes franchise in half, Smith acquired the Coyotes' player contracts, hockey operations staff, and draft picks while the Coyotes went "dormant" pending a permanent arena. This move was similar to the [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy|Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), with the Coyotes continuing minor business operations, mostly focused on finding a new arena. Meruelo remained on the NHL Board of Governors as an observer, retaining the rights to the Coyotes brand and history (including the history and records of the 1972–1996 Winnipeg Jets), with a five-year window to build or otherwise locate a new arena for his team, before "reactivating" the Coyotes through an expansion draft. Conversely, if Meruelo were to fail to come up with a suitable arena by end of that five-year window, he would be required to permanently halt franchise operations and cede the franchise back to the NHL.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39940303/nhl-arizona-coyotes-move-utah-new-name-schedule-players-coaches |title=Everything we know about the Arizona Coyotes moving to Utah – How is the transaction going to work? |website=ESPN.com |date=April 15, 2024 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |quote=It's expected that the final transaction will include a clause that allows Meruelo to "reactivate" the franchise as an expansion team—paying what's expected to be a $1 billion expansion fee if that happens—between now and 2029 if his arena project is completed. All of the team's intellectual property—including those iconic Kachina jerseys—would remain with Meruelo. It's an agreement that evokes the deal made with the city of Cleveland when the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1995.}}</ref> The sale was finalized on April 18, after the NHL Board of Governors voted to grant a new Utah franchise to Smith, effectively expanding the NHL to a total of 33 clubs, if the Coyotes succeeded in building a new team arena.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cotsonika |first1=Nicholas |title='Utah's ready for a team,' new owner says |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/utah-is-ready-for-an-nhl-hockey-team-jazz-owner-ryan-smith-says |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref>

On June 21, 2024, the Arizona State Land Department canceled a land auction for a 110-acre parcel of land in north Phoenix which Meruelo intended to purchase as a site for a new arena.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40403806/coyotes-slam-cancellation-june-27-arizona-land-auction |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=June 25, 2024 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |title=Coyotes slam cancellation of June 27 Arizona land auction |first=Greg |last=Wyshynski |department=NHL}}</ref> Three days later, it was reported that Meruelo had told staff he had no plans to pursue further arena options for the team.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=[[Arizona Republic]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2024/06/24/arizona-coyotes-owner-alex-meruelo-giving-up-pursuit-of-nhl-arena-report-says/74201793007/ |title=Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo giving up pursuit of NHL arena, report says |via=[[USA Today]] |publisher=[[Gannett]] |date=June 25, 2024 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |department=Coyotes}}</ref> At the Board of Governors meeting on June 26, Meruelo informed Bettman that he was not pursuing the franchise reactivation.<ref name="defunct?">{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/bettman-confirms-meruelo-will-not-be-re-activating-coyotes-franchise/ |title=Bettman confirms Meruelo will not be re-activating Coyotes franchise |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=June 25, 2024 |access-date=June 25, 2024}}</ref> Meruelo formally relinquished his rights to the franchise as well as its intellectual property on July 10.<ref name="relinquish">{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Report: Alex Meruelo officially relinquishes rights to Coyotes |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-alex-meruelo-officially-relinquishes-rights-to-coyotes/ |access-date=July 12, 2024 |website=[[Sportsnet.ca]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/future-of-nhl-hockey-in-arizona-unclear-without-new-arena-development/ | title = Future of NHL hockey in Arizona unclear without new arena development | last = Engels | first = Eric | date = June 27, 2024 | publisher = Rogers Media | access-date = March 16, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Embattled Meruelo leaving Coyotes ownership after failed land auction |url=https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coyotes-utah-nhl-8fe43ee05915109c35d2c1ca4136af7c |website=Associated Press |date=June 25, 2024 |access-date=June 25, 2024}}</ref><ref name="defunct?" />