SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The team did its best to keep things looking normal Tuesday, limiting questions to “hockey-related,” but on the eve of what could be the final game in Arizona Coyotes history, there were only so many ways to keep up appearances.
Amidst the familiar sound of a puppy pounding the ice in the Coyotes’ practice facility, the Ice Cave, there have been talks among the team staff of a possible trip as early as next week for what now seems inevitable. To be their new home in Salt Lake City – who stays or goes.
As the Coyotes prepare for Wednesday’s season finale against the Edmonton Oilers and owner Alex Merullo as they continue to finalize negotiations on a deal that would divest the organization’s hockey assets, there was a palpable sense of resignation about what comes next.
“The spirit of the message for us is to live it all up,” Coyotes head coach Andre Turini said of his team’s approach as they played their final game inside a packed Mullet Arena. “We want to play our last game with respect to class. Give the best that people expect. We wanted to make sure we were a team that fought every last ounce of our being.
They didn’t have much of a choice given the unusual circumstances they found themselves in.
Addis, b @Athletics: how # Yotes -The Salt Lake relocation plan was put together, and what issues remained.https://t.co/BidPlkiNcwhttps://t.co/BidPlkiNcw
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 15, 2024
As the Coyotes prepared for a game in Vancouver last Wednesday, news of their move to Salt Lake City for next season began to surface in media reports. Veteran forward Lawson Cruz, who played all 503 NHL games for Arizona, said he and his teammates learned of their fate on social media.
“I’m not going to lie, to shut out all the noise, it’s very hard to do,” Cruz said. But we’ve done an incredible job of that. So, one more.”
Although everyone was careful not to say anything that could be interpreted during a carefully prepared media session on Tuesday, there was a distinct feeling that players and coaches were still in the dark about what plans above them would end up in the owner’s suite. As a criticism of the way this outlet is handled.
“I can’t comment on it,” Cruz said. “I don’t know the logistics of that or anything.”
The Coyotes have spent the past two seasons playing in a 4,600-seat capacity arena on the campus of Arizona State University, recording twice as many wins (42) as they have on the road (21).
Merulo was intended to be a temporary solution while an NHL-quality arena was built in the region. That progress never happened. Still, despite frustrations with facilities and a congested ownership situation, there were clearly mixed feelings as they prepared for one last spin around a glut of players.
“Playing there feels like home-ice advantage,” senior forward Alex Kerfoot said. “Obviously we’ve only got one more to go, so it will be fun to put on a show for them – one last game at home – and we’re grateful for all the support.”
Addis, b @Athletics: Arizona Coyotes players face suspicion of ‘war of minds’ as possibility of move to Utah dwindles.https://t.co/IGS50SaLgshttps://t.co/IGS50SaLgs
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 11, 2024
In the year More than six weeks after the Atlanta Thrillers moved to Winnipeg in 2011 and played their final game at Phillips Arena, it will be a scene unlike any the NHL has seen in the social media era.
The Coyotes have suffered through 28 years in the wilderness since arriving from Winnipeg — through ownership uncertainty and bankruptcy court hearings and unpaid bills from their last home in Glendale — but they’ve put down roots here, too. .
Wednesday’s ticket is very hot. As of Tuesday night, seats on StubHub were priced between $400 and $4,499. Before the team’s final practice, fans gathered in the parking lot to shake hands with players and staff as they arrived.
“Arizona is home to me,” Cruz said. “In the eight years[I’ve played here]they’ve been giving us a lot of support through all the ups and downs. They mean a lot not only to me but to all my teammates. Thank you for being on our side.”
“We will definitely be emotional,” Turini added.
All signs point to an undignified farewell.
The NHL plans a virtual conference call with its board of governors on Thursday, at which point a formal vote could be taken to move the franchise’s hockey operations department to Salt Lake City, according to league sources.
We picked a great day to drop our Salt Lake City feature.
Last month I spent four days in SLC to gauge their appetite for NHL hockey.
I came away impressed with my conversation with Jazz owner Ryan Smith.
And he was even more impressed with the city itself.
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) April 10, 2024
Meanwhile, for the players and staff, there is one game left on the schedule. They only need to look at their 9-2 demolition of San Jose in Edmonton to see how bad things can get if they miss the task at hand. And the focus of this last exercise was to try to prevent that from happening.
“If we don’t come out and play a good hockey game, that’s going to ruin everything,” Turini said. “The support from the fans last week and the atmosphere around the game and people talking about that game is what really fired me up. People have been wonderful to us (nothing) so we want to be wonderful to them.
You can buy tickets for every NHL game. over here.
(Photo: Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)