HISTORY OF THE COYOTES FRANCHISE IN ARIZONA

On January 19, 1996, the NHL’s Board of Governors approved the sale of the Winnipeg Jets and the club's relocation to Arizona. The Coyotes made their debut in 1996-97, the first of 27 NHL seasons in the Valley.

On April 18, 2024, the NHL’s Board of Governors approved a plan that renders the Arizona Coyotes franchise inactive, with a right to reactivate if owner Alex Meruelo has fully constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility appropriate for an NHL team within five years.

In addition, the Board of Governors approved the establishment of a franchise beginning with the 2024-25 season in Utah. The Coyotes transferred the totality of their existing hockey assets – including their full Reserve List, roster of Players, draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department – to the Utah franchise.