Sale of the Arizona Coyotes officially approved and details released

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TJ Tucker
April 18, 2024 (4:02 PM)

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Making it 100 percent official, the NHL's board of governors, made up of owners of all the NHL teams, have officially approved the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes.

While it already seemed like a done deal, the sale of the Arizona Coyotes, and subsequent relocation to Salt Lake City, Utah has now been officially approved. According to Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman, the NHL's board of governors, which is made up of owners of NHL teams across the league, voted to approve the move at a meeting this afternoon.

"The sale of the Coyotes to Utah has been approved."

The team is being purchased by Ryan Smith and his wife Ashley, who own the Utah Jazz of the NBA. It's been noted by the league that the new owners get everything, including the roster and the Coyotes previous draft picks.

"The National Hockey League's Board of Governors today approved the establishment of a franchise beginning with the 2024-25 season in Utah, that will be owned and controlled by Smith Entertainment Group, which is led by Ryan and Ashley Smith. In addition, the Board approved a plan that renders the Arizona Coyotes franchise inactive, with a right to reactivate if owner Alex Meruelo has fully constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility appropriate for an NHL team within five years.

Effective at closing, the approved transactions will result in the Coyotes' franchise transferring the totality of its existing hockey assets � including its full Reserve List, roster of Players and draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department � to the Utah franchise."

Meanwhile, the NHL has released a video officially stating there is a team coming to Utah. Still no word on what the name will be.