The NHL has finalized the deal to relocate the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City for the upcoming season. Despite this move, there will be no divisional realignment, as the Utah team will remain in the Central Division.
For Coyotes fans, it's been a somber period as their team is essentially disbanded. The NHL clarified that the team's history and legacy will stay in Arizona, leaving room for the possibility of reviving the Coyotes as an expansion team in the future, thanks to a clause in the transaction involving former owner Alex Meruelo.
While some fans speculated about divisional realignment, particularly regarding teams like Calgary and Edmonton, the league confirmed that there will be no changes, with the Utah club staying in the Central Division, just as the Coyotes did.
The Coyotes' assets, including their roster, draft picks, and hockey operations, are transferred to Utah, effectively starting a new franchise. However, the league hinted that if it expands back to Arizona in the future, divisional realignment could once again become a topic of discussion. But for now, the league's layout remains unchanged, and we'll have to wait and see what unfolds in the future.
