Bill Daly has put Phoenix firmly back in the NHL conversation, with the league showing real interest in returning to Arizona under the right setup.
The Arizona Coyotes may be gone, but the market clearly isn't dead in the NHL's eyes. Daly confirmed that multiple groups have expressed interest in bringing NHL hockey back to the Phoenix area.
That's a significant development after the Coyotes' hockey operations moved to Utah in 2024. Instead of closing the door on Arizona, the league continues to publicly describe it as a market capable of supporting a successful franchise.
The biggest obstacle remains exactly what it was before: the arena. The previous Coyotes setup collapsed after Alex Meruelo's group failed to secure the permanent building the franchise needed.
But if a serious ownership group arrives with an NHL-calibre arena plan, Phoenix suddenly becomes far more than a nostalgic idea.
Craig Morgan has also indicated that progress has been made behind the scenes in Arizona, even though the details haven't surfaced publicly. That gives the story another layer beyond Daly's comments.
Phoenix remains firmly on the NHL radar
The NHL isn't promising Arizona a franchise. But league leadership continuing to openly praise the market after everything that happened carries weight.
There could also be a path that looks different from a traditional expansion bid. Previous reporting indicated Arizona's situation had unique conditions tied to the Coyotes' inactive status and Meruelo's prior approval as an owner.
That doesn't guarantee anything. It does show why Phoenix refuses to disappear from the league's long-term thinking.
Competition will be heavy. Texas and Atlanta have both been connected to the NHL's expansion discussion, meaning Arizona would need ownership, financing and an arena solution strong enough to jump into a crowded race.
Still, Phoenix has something those discussions don't: a league that already knows the market and keeps talking about wanting hockey there again.
For fans who thought the Coyotes' departure ended the NHL's Arizona experiment, Daly's comments point in another direction.
Phoenix isn't back yet. But the NHL is keeping the door wide open, interested groups are circling, and the possibility of hockey returning to the desert suddenly feels very real.
Will the NHL return to Phoenix with a new Arizona franchise?
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