Gary Bettman appears to use relocation as a threat to get a new arena.

Gary Bettman doesn't often make very loud public statements, but on Tuesday he did exactly that.

The National Hockey League's commissioner sent a letter to the Arizona Legislature that carried a very powerful message. In that letter he stated unequivocally that the Coyotes would not remain in Glendale Arizona.

 “The simple truth: The Arizona Coyotes must have a new arena location to succeed," wrote Bettman. "The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale.”

There have been rumors that the Coyotes have been looking at contingency plans in Seattle and Portland, and while team executives have denied those reports, the threat of relocation is implicit in Bettman's comments.

 “The Coyotes current location is not economically capable of supporting a successful NHL franchise. For the past 15 years a succession of ownership groups have tired everything imaginable to make the Glendale location financial sustainable. Our combined efforts have all yielded the same result - a consistent economic loss."