2 Phoenix groups in discussions with NHL about expansion team

The NHL has had discussions with “at least two groups” in Phoenix about a potential expansion team following the 2024 sale of the Arizona Coyotes, deputy commissioner Jim Daly told ESPN.

Local hockey insider Craig Morgan reported that one of the groups is viewed more as a long-term fit and that discussions with that group have been “preliminary and noncommital.”

“I don’t think we ever soured on Phoenix as a market,” Daly said. “I think our issue in Phoenix was the location of the building. It’s always the location of the building. I think with the right location, we collectively believe that Phoenix would be a great market.”

Other markets looked at as potential expansion sites are Atlanta and a second Texas team near Houston or Austin, both of which appear further along than any Phoenix expansion.

The Valley has remained a hot spot for the hockey scene since the NHL franchise left town to become the Utah Mammoth, with ASU hockey regularly selling out games since the opening of Mullett Arena and a highly active youth hockey landscape.

Daly added that expansion in any market is not a sure thing.

“I don’t want to get ahead of the board,” the deputy commissioner said. “I don’t want to treat it like a done deal because it’s not.”

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