Utah Hockey Club

The Arizona Coyotes denied a Forbes report that suggested the NHL franchise is for sale and drawing interest from a potential buyer who would move the organization to Houston.

"This is false. Totally false," the Coyotes said in a statement to Craig Morgan of the NHL Network. "We're not selling. We're not moving. The Coyotes are 100 percent committed to playing in Arizona."

The future of the Coyotes has come into question since the city of Glendale announced in August it would not extend its lease agreement with the franchise to use Gila River Arena, which has served as the team's home ice since 2003.

In September, Kevin Reichard of Arena Digest reported the Coyotes released plans for a 16,000-seat arena that would serve as the core of a $1.7 billion development in Tempe.

That proposal isn't without issue, though.

First, the project has an estimated completion date in 2025, which would leave the team without an arena for the next three NHL seasons.

Second, officials from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have stated the project could interfere with airport operations.

Alex Meruelo, the team's majority owner since 2019, hasn't commented on the Coyotes' arena plans since saying in June 2020 they hoped to have a plan in place by the end of last year. That didn't happen, and they're running out of time to finalize details by the end of 2021.

"We're committed to Arizona," Meruelo said last June.

The organization moved to Arizona in 1996 after 25 years as the Winnipeg Jets in the Canadian province of Manitoba. They were named the Phoenix Coyotes before rebranding to Arizona in 2014. The Jets returned to existence in 2011 via relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers, who debuted in 1999 as a new franchise.

On the ice, the Coyotes have been one of the NHL's worst-performing teams over the past decade and own the league's second-worst record this season with 12 points (5-16-2) through 23 games.

Arizona returns to action Friday when it hosts the Vegas Golden Knights at Gila River Arena.

Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time. Now, the Hall of Famer is facing a new challenge in the booth.

Gretzky signed on as a studio analyst for Turner Sports and already made quite the impression when he challenged Charles Barkley to a shootout. He joined B/R for an AMA session to discuss TNT's NHL coverage and to weigh in on a variety of other topics.

The following is the full transcript from the session.

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@BR_OpenIce What’s been most surprising about your first two weeks on TNT? Tired of Biz yet?

Love Bis. I think Bis is something really special. I think people can really relate to him. He wasn’t a star. He worked really hard in his role. He’s turned himself into a cult following. He’s very intelligent and knows how hard it is to work in the NHL, so he’s been an absolute joy to work with. It was a really nice fit for him to join me. As time goes on, we’ll get more comfortable. I like the fact we don’t get too in depth because we know how hard it is to make the league. The surprise was how much fun I’ve had. 

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@Dlanor How did you lose in a fight to a guy with a perm? 

I had a perm too - so two guys. The fight was actually really silly. It’s something he and I can laugh about. If you’re gonna rate fights, it was probably rated the worst fight in the history of the NHL.

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@CJShoe What was your welcome to the NHL moment? 

There’s so many great moments. My first game was in Chicago stadium. My dad was at the game. My dad loved Stan Mikita. One of my first faceoffs was against him and my dad was so happy to see me going against his guy. That was probably one of my favorite moments when I first joined the league.

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@Leeds1991 What’s the best advice your dad gave you as a young hockey player?

He gave me this about hockey and about life: failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Not just in hockey, but in life. It was a simple quote but I always remembered it.

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@BK1010 How hard was it to convince Edmonton to trade McSorley with you to L.A.? 

Glen Sather was one of the smartest GMs ever. He knew the importance of Marty and what he would mean to L.A. Marty fought his way through hard work to make himself a hockey player. People love the finesse stars like Crosby or Ovi, but Marty is a great role model because he wasn’t an 18-year-old destined to make the league. He was always the last guy to leave the ice. He was an incredibly hard worker and he’s proof that with hard work you can make it.

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B/R COLLECTIVE QUESTION: Best chirp you’ve ever heard? 

You had to check your feelings in the locker room. If you’re not chirping at other guys, they usually don’t chirp your way. I was relatively quiet, but all in all I didn’t receive a lot of chirping because I was a sleeping dog. It’s the guys that do the barking that tend to hear more than other guys.

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@LiquidC Would you be genuinely happy to see Ovi break your scoring record? Do you ever get tired of people asking you about it? 

These next two years are big because he’s still a little bit younger. He’s off to a phenomenal start. There’s not one player who is bigger than the game itself. It’s only positive. If Alex does break the record. I’ll hopefully be one of the first guys to shake his hand. I think it’s great for our sport. I’m proud of what I accomplished. I did everything I could do. If he breaks the record, good for him.

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@Just_in_Time With Vegas and now Seattle in the fold, which city deserves the next NHL expansion team and why? 

I haven’t thought about it a whole lot, but just looking at it from a practical point of view, the three that I would say: I think Kansas City because the Chiefs and Royals do so well. I think the city of Houston because the Stars have helped grow hockey down there. The third one that’s most obvious is Quebec City. There is nothing like hockey in the province of Quebec. I have no knowledge of this, but those are the ones I’m interested in.

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Rapid Fire: 

@LiamHolmes30: Your favorite city? 

The city that I loved the most without question when it came to leaving Edmonton or L.A. without question was Toronto. I grew up idolizing the arena, the atmosphere, the fans in Toronto, how the game is respected in that city. I went to high school there for two years, so I would say without question Toronto.

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@GrumpyMuffin: You get to build a PP unit consisting of only guys you played with during your career. Who you putting out there?

The obvious ones for me would be Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Paul Coffey and Larry Robinson. You can probably name another 5 because guys like Luc Robitaille, guys like Jari Kurri, they’re hall of farmers, how could you not include them. I played with all those guys in the NHL or Team Canada. Our powerplay would be pretty solid with those 5 guys on it.

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@IcetoMeetYou37 The goalie that gave you the most trouble was ____

Without a question, Eddie Belfour. I think I only scored one goal on him. During pressure moments, he was one of the great pressure goaltenders of all time.

The NHL's strict game-day dress code has long been a sticking point among players. Now it seems the Arizona Coyotes plan to separate themselves from the pack.

According to ESPN, in a survey of all 32 teams, the Coyotes were the only team to reveal they intend to fully relax their dress code for the 2021-22 season.

According to the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, "Players are required to wear jackets, ties and dress pants to all Club games and while traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the Head Coach or General Manager."

Players were allowed to dress however they wanted for games during the 2020 playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. Despite the players enjoying the freedom to wear whatever they wanted, the league chose to return to enforcing the CBA policy in 2020-21.

The Coyotes began to loosen restrictions on their dress code last season. Chief brand officer Alex Meruelo Jr. approached former team captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson with the idea to relax the dress code for home games, and Ekman-Larsson was more than open to it.

"To be the first team to go no dress code was awesome," Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun told ESPN. "The guys loved it. I think it's great to be able to show a bit of your personality and your closet other than just your suits. I had fun with it. I enjoyed it. I'm glad it's something we'll continue to do."

The NBA and NFL allow their players to show off their personalities with their outfits before games. Some players are hoping the NHL will ease its rules so they can follow the lead of the Coyotes. 

"I wish there was no dress code for games and stuff," Toronto Maple Leafs star Matthews told ESPN. "I don't mind wearing a suit, but it gets old, I guess. It gets old pretty quick. I think it'd be fun to wear different things and be able to express yourself, similar to what the NBA does or even the NFL a little bit."

The 2021-22 NHL season is set to begin on October 12.     

The Arizona Coyotes must find a new home within a year.

Per Katie Strang of The Athletic, the City of Glendale has opted out of its year-to-year lease agreement with the team as of June 30, 2022, making the 2021-22 NHL season the final one for the Coyotes at Gila River Arena.

Strang provided more context regarding the current situation between the team and city:

The current lease agreement operates on a year-to-year basis and can be terminated by either party via written notice on or before Dec. 31. The Coyotes also use administrative space within the arena, which the team must also vacate.

The termination notice follows several months of stalled negotiations between the city and the team on the terms of a lease extension and potential renovations to the arena, as well as multiple notices about outstanding and delinquent balances owed by the Coyotes as part of their lease agreement, public records reveal.

The team issued a statement in response to the news, noting its "one hundred percent committed" to Arizona:

We are disappointed by today's unilateral decision by the City of Glendale to break off negotiations on a multi-year lease extension agreement. We are hopeful that they will reconsider a move that would primarily damage the small businesses and hard-working citizens of Glendale. We remain open to restarting good-faith negotiations with the City.

Most importantly, the Coyotes are one hundred percent committed to finding a long-term arena solution here in Arizona, and nothing will shake our determination to do what is right for our organization, residents of the entire Valley and, most important, our fans.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman does not outwardly appear concerned about the Coyotes' future in the greater Phoenix area, however, per his comments on Carton & Roberts on WFAN Sports Radio (h/t Rob Taub of IslesBlog).

"I don't think the franchise is going anywhere," Bettman said. "I think the city is just negotiating. I'm not worried. I think their future stays in the Greater Phoenix area."

The first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets played in the WHA from 1972-79 and then the NHL from 1979-1996 before moving to Phoenix and becoming the Coyotes. They moved to their current Glendale home in 2003.

The Coyotes must now find a new arena, however, as its two-decade stop in its current home now nears an end.

Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps spoke on the record with Strang and said: "We've reached that point of no return" and that “there’s no wavering" on the matter.

Per Strang, Phelps "is responsible for the arena management contract between the team and ASM Global, the arena management company." He also said that City Council members showed a "strong consensus" towards that course of action.

In addition, the Coyotes reportedly owe the arena $1,462,792, with over $300,000 of that payment “over four months delinquent."

The fireworks are reportedly starting before Friday's 2021 NHL draft.

According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Vancouver Canucks acquired defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and right wing Conor Garland in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes.

Pierre LeBrun of TSN noted the Coyotes will get the No. 9 overall pick this year in addition to left wings Loui Eriksson and Antoine Roussel as well as center Jay Beagle.

NHL reporter Elliotte Friedman added more context:

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1418678764855304194

Ekman-Larsson immediately stands out in the deal as a two-time All-Star who can help anchor Vancouver's blue line.

The 30-year-old tallied 24 points in 46 games during the shortened 2020-21 campaign and isn't far removed from a stretch that saw him post 42 or more points five times in a six-season span from 2013-14 through 2018-19.

The 6'2", 200-pound Swede can get involved on the offensive side or the power play while being solid defensively.

Ekman-Larsson will be joined by Garland on the Canucks after they spent the last three seasons together in Arizona. Garland is just 25 years old and posted a career-best 39 points in just 49 games during the 2020-21 season.

The forward appeared to turn the corner as a playmaker and figures to be a key part of Vancouver's attack in 2021-22.

He also seemed to express frustration after the deal when he told reporters, "Everybody knows what's gone on here. We haven't heard anything from the team since maybe three days after the season ended when they asked for our offer. It's been a while waiting for that. You just want to go where you're wanted."

The Canucks gave up plenty to acquire the two impact players, including a top-10 pick. However, they've only advanced out of the first round once since their run to the Western Conference Final in 2012 and are trying to bounce back from their 24-26-6 record during the past season. 

From Arizona's perspective, the top-10 pick could help facilitate a long-range turnaround for a club that has made the playoffs just once in the last nine campaigns.

It also got some veteran leadership with Eriksson (36 years old), Roussel (31) and Beagle (35) to perhaps stabilize the team in the short term as it looks to compete.

Facing a salary-cap crunch, the Philadelphia Flyers essentially gave away defenseman  Shayne Gostisbehere. 

The Flyers announced on Thursday they sent Gostisbehere and two 2022 draft picks, including a second-rounder, to the Arizona Coyotes. 

Philadelphia isn't receiving anything from the Coyotes in return. 

"This was a difficult decision but one we thought was necessary given the reality of the salary cap," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said in the trade announcement. "Shayne has been a quality player for this organization since the moment he arrived in Philadelphia and has been a part of many special moments in his seven seasons as a Flyer."

Prior to moving Gostisbehere's deal, Spotrac projected the Flyers to have $9.4 million in cap space to spend on free agents and draft picks. 

Gostisbehere has a $4.5 million cap hit in 2021-22, which would have been the eighth-highest mark on Philadelphia's roster. He also has a $4.5 million cap number in 2022-23, the final season of the six-year, $27 million contract he signed in June 2017. 

The Flyers are trying to find the right pieces to get them over the top. They have alternated making the playoffs and missing the playoffs for the past 10 seasons, with the 2020-21 campaign being a miss year. 

The Flyers haven't advanced beyond the second round of the postseason since reaching the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. They have several key roster decisions to make this offseason, including whether to re-sign restricted free agents Travis Sanheim and Carter Hart. 

Gostisbehere has seen his production decline since setting career highs with 13 goals, 52 assists and 65 points during the 2017-18 season. He has put up just 32 points in 83 games over the past two seasons combined. 

At just 28 years old, Gostisbehere could turn things around to show the form he displayed in 2017-18. The Coyotes are taking a low-risk, high-reward gamble to add him, and they got two draft picks next year to help strengthen their depth for the future.    

The Arizona Coyotes have officially named Andre Tourigny as their next head coach.

The team had announced in May that previous coach Rick Tocchet would not return after four seasons with the franchise.

General manager Bill Armstrong said in a statement:

"We are very pleased to name Andre as the new head coach of the Arizona Coyotes. Andre is a tremendous person and one of the best young coaches in the game today. He is a winner, a great teacher and a strong communicator who has a proven track record of developing young talent. We are confident that he is the right person to lead our team on the ice and we are thrilled to have him in our organization."

Tourigny will get his first opportunity as a head coach in the NHL after serving as an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators. He spent the past four years as the coach of the Ottawa 67's in the junior Ontario Hockey League.

The 47-year-old found a lot of success at the junior level, winning OHL Coach of the Year in each of the past two seasons while leading his team to the best record in the league both years.

Tourigny also led Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2020 world junior championships and was an assistant for Canada at the world championships last month.

The work with younger players could be valuable as the Coyotes potentially look at a rebuild heading into 2021-22.

Arizona missed the playoffs after totaling just 54 points in 56 games last year. The team has just one postseason appearance in the last nine seasons, with the lone exception coming during the 2020 restart amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young contributors like Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun will hope to turn the franchise around under Tourigny's tutelage.  

The Arizona Coyotes parted ways with head coach Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet's contract is due to expire June 30, and general manager Bill Armstrong confirmed Sunday he won't be back in his present role:

"After meeting with Rick, we have agreed that a coaching change is in the best interest of the club. This was a very difficult decision, but we believe that it is time for a new direction and new leadership. Rick is a very good coach and an incredible person, and we sincerely appreciate all his hard work and dedication to the Coyotes the past four years. We are grateful for everything that he has done for our organization and wish him the best of luck in the future."

The 57-year-old spent four seasons as Arizona's coach, and the team posted a 125-131-34 record.

Tocchet guided the Coyotes to the playoffs last season, their first postseason trip since 2012. However, the team went backward in 2020-21. Despite winning their last two games, they finished fifth in the West division, three points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final playoff berth.

Especially with Tocchet's contract expiring, this offseason presented Armstrong with an opportunity to start over.

Armstrong took over as GM in September following John Chayka's abrupt departure last July. The Coyotes were clearly surprised by Chayka's decision, with the team saying at the time he had "chosen to quit on a strong and competitive team, a dedicated staff and the Arizona Coyotes fans, the greatest fans in the NHL."

ESPN's Emily Kaplan subsequently reported in January that Chayka received a suspension through the remainder of 2021 for "pursuing other opportunities while under contract with the Coyotes and terminating his contract with three years remaining on it."

Particularly along their forward lines, the bulk of the Coyotes' roster is either signed through 2021-22 or entering restricted free agency. But the franchise has experienced a prolonged stretch of futility, and The Athletic's Katie Strang reported in February on what people within the team called a "toxic" work environment under majority owner Alex Meruelo.

According to Strang, the arrival of Armstrong exacerbated "an already turbulent environment created by the changeover in ownership."

Regardless of whom the Coyotes tab to replace Tocchet, organizational stability is imperative to building a winning franchise.

The Arizona Coyotes will posthumously induct Leighton Accardo into the team's Ring of Honor on Saturday, making her the first person who wasn't a player, coach, general manager or broadcaster to receive the distinction.

In our hearts.

On our backs.

4.17.21 pic.twitter.com/uq8pu6hAsZ

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) April 15, 2021

Accardo died in November at age nine after being diagnosed with cancer. Her family will be present at the pregame ceremony, and the team will wear special warm-up jerseys designed to honor the Coyotes fan. The sweaters will be auctioned off, and all proceeds will support the Leighton Accardo Scholarship Fund to help provide access for girls who want to play hockey in Arizona.

"I'm not scared. My friends are here with me right now."

When Leighton was first diagnosed with cancer, her teammates hosted a head shaving party in support of her fight. 💜 pic.twitter.com/gKIebeqMux

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) April 16, 2021

Leighton's legacy will live on forever.

In 2021, we introduced "Little Leightons," a program for girls 5-9 to learn how to play hockey. All girls wear yellow for childhood cancer awareness and #49 to remember to always "skate hard, have fun." 💛🎗️ pic.twitter.com/3h6yEK0uaj

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) April 16, 2021

Coyotes president Xavier A. Gutierrez said in a statement:

"Leighton was a very special person, and we were all inspired by her incredible strength, courage, positivity, and passion for life. Leighton loved the game of hockey and she had an incredible impact on our entire organization and the Arizona hockey community. We are honored to carry on her legacy and preserve her memory by inducting her into our Ring of Honor. Leighton will forever be a part of our Pack."

The Coyotes have raised $75,000 for the scholarship fund as their efforts to honor Accardo continue.

Less than two years after Alex Meruelo's purchase of the Arizona Coyotes was finalized, the franchise is reportedly in a state of disarray off the ice. 

Per The Athletic's Katie Strang, in interviews with more than 50 people associated with the Coyotes, including current and former employees, the organization was accused by multiple people as having a "toxic" work environment under Meruelo. 

"If I was talking to a future employer, I'd say it's been a learning experience,” one employee told Strang. "If I was being frank with you, I'd say it's a s--tshow."

Strang's investigation found that representatives from a law firm met with members of the organization in January to ask about "potential financial irregularities, workplace culture, at least one case of alleged sexual harassment, and other matters."

In a response to Strang's report, the Coyotes issued a statement accusing The Athletic of condoning a "harassment campaign against Mr. Alex Meruelo, the Arizona Coyotes, the Meruelo Group and dozens of current employees and former employees."

The @ArizonaCoyotes release a statement on @KatieJStrang's piece today, claiming that The Athletic has "for several months, has condoned a harassment campaign against Mr. Alex Meruelo, the Arizona Coyotes, the Meruelo Group and dozens of current employees and former employees." pic.twitter.com/Lw934U4TOo

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 16, 2021

One employee told Strang that Meruelo "berated" a senior team employee in a meeting with about 20 other people "for a variety of issues." Per Strang, "outbursts from those at the very top of the organization were not uncommon."

Employees also told Strang they had reported the issues to the NHL "to document what they were experiencing and, in some cases, to seek help."

Strang previously reported in September that the Coyotes "have been late on paying at least a few players their contractually-stipulated signing bonuses on time." She did note at the time the issue had since been resolved, but "it has raised some concerns."

The Coyotes announced last March amid the COVID-19 pandemic they would continue to pay part-time and hourly employees at Gila River Arena and with the team.

The team subsequently announced in April that 50 percent of its staff was being furloughed due to financial concerns caused by the pandemic. 

"We never anticipated that the situation would escalate to the point of shutting down some of our businesses. It doesn't appear that the NHL will resume play in the immediate future, so this decision was necessary," Meruelo said in a statement about the decision. 

In addition to potential financial and workplace issues, Strang noted the Coyotes' use of their first pick in the 2020 NHL draft to select Mitchell Miller led to criticism. 

Miller admitted to bullying a Black, developmentally disabled student four years ago in juvenile court, per an October report from Craig Harris and Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic. 

Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, the classmate, told Harris and Romero that Miller also used racist language when referring to him, including calling him "brownie" and the "N-word."

The Coyotes announced on Oct. 29 they had renounced Miller's draft rights. Coyotes CEO Xavier Gutierrez said said the decision was made after they learned about the situation involving Meyers-Crothers.

Meruelo, 56, attempted to purchase the Atlanta Hawks in 2011. It fell through when Atlanta's ownership group and Meruelo mutually agreed to terminate the deal, but Strang reported the NBA "harbored doubts about Meruelo's ability to withstand operating costs and did not receive the financial assurances needed to assuage those concerns."

The NHL finalized Meruelo's purchase of the Coyotes from Andrew Barroway in July 2019. They made the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2011-12 season, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.