NHL insider reveals first plans of new Utah owner Ryan Smith

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Dave Colabelli
April 18, 2024 (11:52 PM)

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It is official, the Arizona Coyotes have officially relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah. According to trusted insider Greg Wyshynski, new owner Ryan Smith will not rush into the team nickname, colors and logos for their inaugural season in 2024-25.

This afternoon it was announced by the NHL that the Arizona Coyotes are no more and the NHL will be welcoming Utah as the team taking over with new owner Ryan Smith.

The National Hockey League's Board of Governors today approved the establishment of a franchise beginning with the 2024-25 season in Utah, that will be owned and controlled by Smith Entertainment Group, which is led by Ryan and Ashley Smith. In addition, the Board approved a plan that renders the Arizona Coyotes franchise inactive, with a right to reactivate if owner Alex Meruelo has fully constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility appropriate for an NHL team within five years.
Effective at closing, the approved transactions will result in the Coyotes franchise transferring the totality of its existing hockey assets - including its full Reserve List, roster of Players and draft picks and its Hockey Operations Department - to the Utah franchise.

The insider stated that Ryan Smith is in no rush to get everything set up and can very well go into the new season with just the name "Utah".

The new team will be called "Utah" rather than "Salt Lake City."

Don't expect a mascot and official team nickname until Season 2 of the franchise. NHL wants the team to have plenty of time to get it right.

Just "Utah?"

"Utah HC?"

We could know tomorrow, with colors next week.

Although I understand the no rush movement, some may argue they should've been prepared with a logo, name and colors with Utah being the favourite to land an NHL team for the last two years.