NHL Deputy commissioner Bill Daly reveals fate of the Arizona Coyotes

Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reported Daly's confirmation:

https://x.com/CraigSMorgan/status/1811118075321929904

Reports first emerged during the Stanley Cup celebrations in June, indicating that Meruelo was no longer pursuing an arena deal in Arizona and would be stepping down as the team's owner. This news followed the announcement that the Arizona State Land Department had canceled a land auction Meruelo was set to participate in because the property was not zoned for an NHL arena.

Coyotes fans might welcome the departure of Meruelo, hoping it opens the door for new ownership that could potentially bring the team back to Arizona. However, this development also means that the five-year window for the Coyotes to return to the NHL under Meruelo's leadership is no longer applicable. Meruelo was granted a five-year window to reestablish the Coyotes as an expansion franchise, but this privilege is not transferable to any new owner.

The Coyotes' brand, including logos and colors, is expected to be returned to the NHL. This situation raises questions about the fate of the original Winnipeg Jets' history and branding, which could potentially be claimed by the current Winnipeg Jets.

Coyotes fans will have to wait for a stable ownership group to emerge and successfully navigate the official expansion process to bring the NHL back to Arizona. They will face competition from other cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Portland, and Quebec City.

The future of the Coyotes and their potential return to the NHL remains uncertain until a new ownership group demonstrates its capability to manage the team better than Alex Meruelo.

Source: Blade of Steel
Alex Meruelo officially relinquishes his rights to the Arizona Coyotes