"They've done an amazing job the last two years turning this team around so I can't take credit for that," Meruelo said Thursday, three days after completing his purchase of controlling interest in the Coyotes. "But I will say there are a couple of deals that were made, and that I was very instrumental in making sure they got done.
"I was told that if I made that decision, I'd paid for it, and I'm going to pay for it. But you know, I want to win."
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Kessel, a forward, was acquired June 29 in a trade that sent forward Alex Galchenyuk to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Four days earlier, Arizona acquired forward Carl Soderberg in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Kevin Connauton.
Meruelo, the first Hispanic owner in the NHL, was approved by the Board of Governors on June 19. Despite his initial activity, the 55-year-old said he won't interfere with CEO Ahron Cohen and general manager John Chayka in the day-to-day running of the Coyotes.
"I'm not here to micromanage them, tell them what to do," Meruelo said. "But I'm a person of high energy. And I'm trying to control myself a lot right now. Because I care. Because I care a lot. I want to win, and I understand we can't win every game."
The Coyotes haven't made the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011-12. They were one of the most improved teams in the NHL last season, falling four points short of the second wild card from the Western Conference after finishing last in the conference in 2017-18.
"I want to do everything I can to give the resources, the financial resources, and the support to win a Stanley Cup," said Meruelo, who became hooked on hockey after the Los Angeles Kings traded for Wayne Gretzky in 1988.