Bill Daly breaks his silence on the future of the

Bill Daly breaks his silence on the future of the Coyotes

Sports News / By /

National Hockey League (NHL) Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has shifted leadership to the wing of those hoping to see the Arizona Coyotes play elsewhere next season.

“I can’t think of a scenario where the Coyotes don’t play at Mullett Arena next season,” he said in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday.

The future of the Coyotes in Arizona was rocked Tuesday night when the people of Tempe voted out a referendum on a proposal for a new district development plan that would include a new arena for the NHL club.

Since then, there has been much speculation about a relocation of the “Yotes” to another market. However, it appears that the NHL’s plan is to keep the organization in Arizona.

“I wasn’t expecting to say this today, but I’m hearing now that the Coyotes still have a future in Arizona. The saga continues,” wrote NHL Network journalist Craig Morgan on Twitter.

The latter also shared a message that the President of the Coyotes, Xavier A. Gutierrez, had sent to the staff of his organization.

“During the 2023-2024 season, the Arizona Coyotes will play at Mullett Arena. Additionally, we still want to be in Arizona and have already begun speaking with local officials and sites to find a new permanent home in the Valley,” he specifically said in his letter.

The “Yotes” have been looking for a fourth home since joining in 1996. They played in 2022–2023 at Mullett Arena, Arizona State University’s ice rink, which seats fewer than 5,000 spectators.

From 1996 to 2003, the club shared America West Arena with the Phoenix Suns before moving to Glendale’s Gila River Arena. Those in charge of this complex refused to renew the lease on the NHL formation, which ended with the end of the 2021-2022 season.