Tag: Arizona Coyotes

Ranking the 5 possible Utah NHL team names (Venom!) reportedly filed as trademarks

The Utah Venom would be AWESOME.

The Arizona Coyotes are officially moving to Utah next season, and while fans have thrown around names for the relocating NHL franchise, the word from owner Ryan Smith is the moniker may take time to figure out.

Per NHL.com: “It will 100 percent be ‘Utah,’ and then it will be ‘Utah Something,’ obviously,” he said. “I don’t think given this timeline that we’re going to have time — or nor should we rush with everything else that’s going on — to go force what that is in the next three months.”

That said, a report from DetroitHockey.net found that some U.S. Patent and Trademark Office applications revealed five possible names that were registered anonymously. It could be the team doing so, or not. But with that in mind, we decided to rank those potential names if they’re indeed being considered by the franchise:

5. Utah Hockey Club

The one below it is much better and more soccer-y.

4. Utah HC

We’ve seen Washington Football Team be cool. But Utah HC is simple and effective, and as I said, soccer-team-like.

3. Utah Blizzard

We have the Avalanche. Do we need the Blizzard?

2. Utah Fury

I … kind of like it! Expect a lot of MCU jokes if this happens, though.

1. Utah Venom

HECK YEAH! Even if there are Venom from Spider-Man jokes, this name rocks.

8 names for Utah’s NHL team with the Arizona Coyotes reportedly relocating to Salt Lake City

Here’s what the Utah NHL team should be called with the Arizona Coyotes reportedly moving to Salt Lake City.

Editor’s note: The Coyotes are officially moving to Utah. The rest of the story remains unchanged.

The long, exhausting history of the struggles the Arizona Coyotes have had in the state may have a new chapter … in another state.

There has been a lot of buzz this week that the NHL franchise could move to Salt Lake City in Utah, a potential relocation that’s come about amid the Coyotes’ attempts to win an auction for state land for a new arena.

But on Friday, per reports including from ESPN, Coyotes players have been told that the team is going to Utah next season, with an announcement expected when the 2023-24 NHL regular season ends.

While we await official word, here’s a question a lot of people are asking: what should the franchise name be in Utah? Fortunately, a lot of folks on X (formerly Twitter) answered that:

Utah Monuments

Utah Yeti

Utah Grizzlies (even though that’s the name of an Avalanche affiliate)

Utah Golden Eagles

Utah Raptors

SLC Punks

Salt Lake Stags

Keep the Coyotes name!

7 heartbreaking moments from the Arizona Coyotes’ final game before Salt Lake City move, including a beautiful announcer speech

The Arizona Coyotes played one last time before the move to Salt Lake City.

It was an emotional night at Mullett Arena, to say the least.

With the Arizona Coyotes franchise packing up and heading to Utah in Salt Lake City, the NHL team that’s had a long history of struggles in the area, there was one last game in Tempe on Wednesday night. The awesome part is the Coyotes won it, but it was a night filled with poignant moments for fans, players and staffers.

With that in mind, as we wait to see what the Salt Lake team looks like and what the name is, here’s a look at the final night of this franchise, with the hope that maybe someday NHL hockey will return there:

There were “Salt Lake sucks!” chants

This speech from announcer Todd Walsh is worth your time

Here are the final seconds of the game

Players and employees were on the ice after

Paul Bissonnette talked about what the Coyotes meant to him

Franchise legend Shane Doan got his retirement banner after it was left behind

The longtime equipment manager got love from the players

Patrick Mahomes enthusiastically backs Kansas City for Coyotes relocation in pitch to NHL

“KC Coyotes has a nice ring to it!”

Even Patrick Mahomes is tossing his hat into the ring during talks of a possible NHL team relocation.

Late Tuesday night, Tempe voters said no to a new arena proposal that would have become the home of the Arizona Coyotes should it have gone through. While the Coyotes will play the 2023-24 season at Mullett Arena on Arizona State’s campus, many NHL fans are beginning to wonder if relocation is in the cards for the franchise.

At the moment, there are no plans to move the franchise in the immediate future, but hockey fans were still fervent in their relocation ideas all the same. And jumping into the conversation on Wednesday was none other than Mahomes, who — of course — pitched Kansas City as a relocation spot for the Coyotes.

Given Mahomes’ pull as quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL’s biggest superstar, you’d have to think his pitch holds some weight with the NHL, right? It never hurts to try!

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5 cities the Arizona Coyotes could relocate to in the future after rejected arena deal, according to fans

Could this be the end of the Coyotes in Arizona?

It’s a really sad day if you’re an Arizona Coyotes fan.

Tempe voters said no to a proposal for a new arena development on Tuesday, per the Arizona Republic: “Tuesday’s unofficial tally shows similar trends among the three ballot items ― Propositions 301, 302 and 303 — all of which needed to receive a majority of ‘yes’ votes in order for the Coyotes project to move forward. Each one was losing by a 56% to 44% margin, with the exception of Prop. 303, which was losing 57% to 43%.”

It could mean the future of the Coyotes — who spent last season playing in 5,000-seat Mullet Arena, Arizona State’s home — is very much up in the air.

Where could the Coyotes go if this means the end of professional hockey in the state? Fans had some ideas:

Update: Worth noting!

UPDATE NO. 2: They’re staying next season.

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Connor McDavid zinged Paul Bissonnette right after scoring his 60th goal

This was such a savage and unnecessary roast!

Connor McDavid is on top of the world right now.

He’s the favorite for his third career Hart Trophy and has his Edmonton Oilers in a prime position for the upcoming playoffs.

On Wednesday night, McDavid notched 60 goals for the first time in his already illustrious career. He’s the fourth player this century to score at least 60 goals in a season (after Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, and Auston Matthews) and is the fastest to reach the milestone (just 72 games) in the salary cap era.

After scoring his 60th goal to beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 in overtime, McDavid was clearly feeling himself in an NHL on TNT postgame interview. He seemed to (understandably) be over the moon. When analyst Paul Bissonnette — a former NHL player — asked McDavid about whether he could get a special shirt the Oilers star was wearing to spark a comeback, McDavid responded with the most casual zinger:

PHEW. I personally love how McDavid barely cracks a smile while saying Bissonnette is where he should be. That’s what makes the delivery of the joke perfect. Hey, when you’re king of the hockey world, you’re free to say things like this in any tone you want.

Mullett Arena might be giving the underdog Arizona Coyotes an advantage against the spread

Playing on ASU’s campus has provided solid value for Arizona bettors (for now)

The Arizona Coyotes are really nothing special so far this season.

They rank in the bottom third of the NHL in most major categories (goals per game, goals allowed per game, and both special teams units) which helps explain why the Yotes are 9-13-4 and ahead of only the tanking Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division.

Arizona is more or less meeting the dismal expectations many had for the club heading into the year.

Which is also exactly why bettors will want to pay attention to the Coyotes over the next few weeks. Because with the team playing 14 of their next 24 games in Arizona, we’ll finally be able to get a decent enough sample size to learn if Mullett Arena is a true home-ice advantage.

The brand new 5,000-seat facility on the campus of Arizona State University is far below NHL standards and the Coyotes say (hope) it’s just a temporary home. They’re doing their best to lean into the college atmosphere and embrace the tight quarters, but there’s no masking how out-of-place the franchise is at the moment.

And therein lies the advantage. Because if the Yotes can’t make themselves at home in Mullett Arena, opposing teams will certainly be feeling squeezed by the rink, too. Especially as fans continue to pack the place. According to Hockey-Reference’s attendance tracker, Arizona is averaging 92 percent capacity (or about 4,600 fans per game).

In six games so far at home—against fairly superior opponents—Arizona is 3-2-1. More importantly is the fact that the Coyotes are 4-2 at home against the spread because oddsmakers keep making them 1.5-goal underdogs.

Across the NHL, home underdogs are 92-62 overall (59.7%) which already makes for an enticing edge.

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The Coyotes at home have already won as underdogs against the spread against the Florida Panthers (won outright), New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins (won outright). Arizona’s two defeats against the spread at home includes a 7-2 blowout loss to Dallas (-1.5) while the other loss ATS came in the only game so far this year Arizona has been favored at home (Coyotes -1.5 vs. Flyers).

Not only are the Yotes 4-1 as home underdogs, but if you exclude the Dallas game (which was pretty much over from the beginning with Arizona allowing four goals in the first period), they have a plus-one goal differential in those games. Including the Dallas game, that differential drops to minus-four.

The point here isn’t that Arizona is good at home. That isn’t really the case. The point is that they rarely lose at home by more than one goal. But six games isn’t much of a sample size to work with. The upcoming slate of games at Mullett Arena will certainly help test the theory:

  • Dec. 16 vs. Islanders
  • Dec. 17 vs. Sabres
  • Dec. 19 vs. Canadiens
  • Dec. 23 vs. Kings
  • Dec. 27 vs. Avalanche
  • Dec. 29 vs. Maple Leafs

Notably, each of those teams will be making their first appearance at Mullett Arena. Perhaps after awhile the shine of the odd environment wears off, but so far, the Coyotes should enter at least half of those games as underdogs against the spread.

As long as that’s the case, Arizona 1.5 is worth a flier. But this stretch of 14 home games in their next 24 contests should tell us whether or not it’s a sustainable edge.

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11 best photos from the Coyotes’ first game at Mullett Arena

The Coyotes new home at Arizona State provided some unique views.

The Arizona Coyotes officially began their temporary stay at Arizona State’s new college hockey arena over the weekend.

Mullett Arena opened its doors to NHL fans for the Coyotes home opener against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, aptly giving fans mullet wigs for the occasion. After years of drama around the Coyotes arena situation, the team has finally settled into their current agreement with Arizona State to make for one of the more unique atmospheres in the NHL.

The sold out 5,000-seat arena was loud with a college hockey like atmosphere, even though the Coyotes fell to the Jets 3-2 in overtime. Here are the best photos from the Coyotes first game in their shared college hockey arena.

Why are the Arizona Coyotes playing in a college hockey arena?

The Coyotes will share their new home with Arizona State University.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you confused as to why the Arizona Coyotes are playing in a college arena? We’re here to help.

Over the next few years, home games for the Coyotes will be drastically different to anything the NHL has seen before. Starting in the 2022-23 season, the Coyotes will be playing home games at Mullett Arena, a multipurpose arena at Arizona State University.

The decision is one that’s sparked quite a lot of conversation around the hockey world, as this is just another blow for a troubled Coyotes franchise. That being said, how did the Coyotes get here in the first place and what does this temporary arena deal mean for the future? Let’s dive in.

Maple Leafs’ tying goal was wiped off the board on a controversial, confusing hand pass ruling

This was a tough one to swallow for the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs may not have deserved to win this game, but a controversial official ruling cost them a chance to try.

On Monday, the Maple Leafs were playing host to the winless Arizona Coyotes in an early season bout. Through two periods, the Maple Leafs looked listless as the Coyotes built a 2-0 lead on their opponents, but Toronto made a furious comeback in the third to tie the game.

After Shayne Gostisbehere regained the lead for the Coyotes on a power play with less than two minutes remaining, things were looking dire for the Maple Leafs. With 39 seconds left in the game, however, Alexander Kerfoot seemingly tied up the game for the Maple Leafs with a stellar goal. Unfortunately, the goal wouldn’t stand as Morgan Rielly was called for a hand pass just before Kerfoot’s tally.

Wait, what? Sure, Rielly does stop the puck with his hand, but to call a hand pass — intentionally directing the puck to a teammate — in that situation feels quite absurd. Here’s how the NHL’s rulebook defines a hand pass.

That’s a rough one to take right there. The Coyotes ended up beating the Maple Leafs 4-2 thanks to the controversial call, a wound that will certainly sting until the two teams meet again in late December on ESPN+.

Maple Leafs fans were not happy about the call, to say the least.