Report: The NHL Wants to Return to Phoenix, Arizona

The NHL expansion conversation has been heating up all summer, and most of the attention has been focused on Texas and Atlanta as potential destinations for new franchises. But tucked into the latest round of updates from league insiders is a nugget that should raise some eyebrows among hockey fans everywhere: the league hasn't given up on the Phoenix, Arizona market. Not even close.

The NHL's Quiet Push for a Phoenix Return

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly recently spoke with Craig Morgan of AZ Hockey Insider about the state of expansion, and while his words were carefully measured, the message was clear enough. Daly acknowledged that multiple parties in Arizona have expressed interest in bringing an NHL team back to the Phoenix area, and the league remains open to making it happen under the right conditions.

"I think we've been open and honest about the fact that given the right circumstances, we continue to think Arizona would be a good market for an NHL team and a successful market for an NHL team," Daly said.

Now, if you're a hockey fan who watched the Coyotes saga unfold over nearly three decades of arena drama, ownership turmoil, and dwindling attendance, that statement might feel a little hard to swallow. The franchise originally relocated from Winnipeg back in 1996, bounced between arenas in Glendale and Tempe, played their final two seasons in a college rink at Arizona State's Mullett Arena, and ultimately couldn't secure a permanent home before time ran out. Alex Meruelo's ownership group was unable to lock down land for a new arena, and in 2024, Ryan Smith's Smith Entertainment Group swooped in, purchasing the team's rights and hockey operations for $1.2 billion and relocating everything to Salt Lake City, where the franchise now operates as the Utah Mammoth.

So yeah, it wasn't exactly a fairy tale ending in the desert. And yet, the NHL still sees potential there.

One important detail that could smooth the path for a return: back in April 2024, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported that bringing a team back to Arizona wouldn't require approval from the Board of Governors. The reasoning? Meruelo has already been approved as an NHL owner, and the Coyotes technically remain classified as an "inactive" franchise in the league's eyes. That means, with a proper full-size arena in place, the pieces could theoretically fall together without the usual expansion red tape.

A Crowded Expansion Race

Of course, Arizona isn't the only market vying for the NHL's attention. The league kicked off a six-month exploration process in late June 2025 to evaluate the possibility of placing a 33rd franchise in either Houston or Austin, Texas. That bid has serious financial muscle behind it, with Dan Friedkin, the owner of Italian soccer club AS Roma and English Premier League side Everton, reportedly exploring a roughly $3.5 billion investment that would include a new arena and the expansion fee. Atlanta is also reportedly in the mix, looking for a third shot at NHL hockey after losing the Flames in 1980 and the Thrashers in 2011.

And about that expansion fee: Elliotte Friedman reported back in October 2025 that the next franchise could cost around $2 billion just to join the league. That's a massive jump from the $650 million the Seattle Kraken paid and the $500 million the Vegas Golden Knights shelled out. Whoever lands the next team is going to need very deep pockets.

What makes the Arizona situation so fascinating is the combination of skepticism and optimism surrounding it. Daly was careful not to promise anything, which makes sense given the legal and political complexities involved, not to mention the franchise's rocky history in the Valley. But the fact that the league continues to publicly express belief in Phoenix as a viable market says something. Morgan himself noted that he believes progress has been made behind the scenes in Arizona, even if the details remain under wraps for now.

If the NHL does ultimately expand to 34 teams or beyond, Arizona joining the party alongside a Texas franchise would make the league the largest professional sports organization in North America. It would also make Phoenix one of the rare markets to get a second chance in the modern NHL, joining the likes of Winnipeg, which lost its Jets in 1996 before getting them back in 2011, and Atlanta, which could potentially be looking at a third go-around. Whether the desert can finally make it work this time remains the billion-dollar question.