Steve Peters says the noise coming out of Arizona right now is impossible to ignore, and it's got hockey fans in the desert paying attention again this afternoon.
The insider, writing for Morning Cuppa Hockey, posted the update on Sunday, saying there is "so much smoke going on right now" behind the scenes in Arizona.
His exact words? "Just wait Arizona fans, it's closer than you think."
That's not a small tease. That kind of language usually means something is actually moving, not just fans wishing on a star.
NHL Rumour Report followed up with more context, noting the league was forced out of Arizona back in 2024. The stated reason was poor ownership, plain and simple.
According to NHLRR, multiple reports now suggest the NHL is committed to going back into that market, but with a different ownership group running the show.
There's even a suggestion the location itself could shift, meaning this might not be a straight return to the old building or the old plan.
Why the NHL walked away from Arizona in the first place
Let's be honest about what happened last time. Ownership problems sank that franchise, and it wasn't subtle.
A league does not just pack up a team and leave a market without a real reason. Arizona's collapse was about who was running things, not whether fans showed up.
So if the NHL is serious about round two, the ownership vetting better be a lot tighter this time. Burn a market once, people forgive it. Burn it twice, and you're just the league that can't figure out the desert.
The post itself is already drawing traffic, sitting at 23,000 views by mid-afternoon Sunday.
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Nothing here is confirmed by the league. No press conference, no official filing, no formal announcement.
But insiders don't usually throw around phrases like "closer than you think" for nothing. Peters has planted a flag, and now every hockey market watcher is waiting to see who blinks first with actual details.
Expansion or relocation news tends to leak out in pieces before it ever becomes official. This feels like the first piece landing.
The next question is simple. Who's actually buying in, and where do they want to play?
Should the NHL give Arizona another shot at an NHL team?
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