Report: Coyotes players informed team is moving to Utah

The Arizona Coyotes were informed prior to Friday's game that the team will be moving to Utah, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Players and staff might head to Salt Lake City after the contest against the Edmonton Oilers to take a look at the facilities, Friedman added.

Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong was scheduled to speak to the team on Friday afternoon.

News broke on Wednesday indicating that the franchise could relocate to Utah as soon as next season. The league was reportedly drafting two versions of the 2024-25 schedule, one with the Coyotes in Arizona and another with the team in Salt Lake City's Delta Center, which is home to the NBA's Utah Jazz.

The relocation may be announced on Wednesday, the date of the Coyotes' last home game at Mullett Arena, according to PHNX Sports' Craig Morgan.

In early April, the Coyotes announced their commitment to winning an upcoming land auction for a 110-acre tract in North Phoenix, which would house a new arena and entertainment district for the franchise.

The Coyotes attempted to secure a new arena in Tempe last May, but residents voted against building a $2.1-billion entertainment district in the area.

Arizona has been home to an NHL franchise since 1996, when the original Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix.

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