According to an insider in the hockey world, Salt Lake City is on the verge of becoming the new home to a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. Frank Seravalli, writing for the Daily Faceoff, reported that significant progress has been made towards an agreement between the NHL, the Coyotes, and Ryan Smith, paving the way for a potential relocation to northern Utah.

If the move takes place, it is believed that the Coyotes would be rebranded and renamed. In an NHL memo updated on Wednesday, the league's Board of Governors was informed about the developments. While their next scheduled meeting is in June, there is a possibility they may convene earlier via Zoom, as reported by ESPN.

Frank Seravalli had previously suggested that an announcement regarding the sale and relocation of the Coyotes could come as early as April 18, just a day after the team's final regular season home game. However, he cautioned that there are still many details to be worked on, with layers of negotiations involving lawyers.

The current situation of the Coyotes in Arizona remains uncertain, particularly after a local mayor voiced opposition to constructing a new arena for the team. Despite this, team leadership has expressed their commitment to secure public land through an auction and build a permanent home.

Although the auction is scheduled for June 27, Seravalli suggests that the Coyotes may not be based in Arizona by that date. There is speculation of a potential scenario where current team owner Alex Meruelo would sell control of the franchise to Ryan Smith, the owner of the Utah Jazz and the Smith Entertainment Group, for a staggering sum of over $1.2 billion. ESPN reports that the league itself would purchase the team from Meruelo before selling it to Smith.

A source revealed to ESPN that the NHL has a wealthy owner who has a strong desire to acquire the team and make it part of their family. As the league weighs its options, it is actively working on creating two versions of the 2024-25 schedule – one with the Coyotes remaining in the Phoenix area and another assuming their relocation to Utah.

While the momentum appears to be favoring Salt Lake City, the source cautioned that there are still many moving pieces and nothing is fully resolved at this point. Ryan Smith has long expressed his ambition to bring the NHL to northern Utah, with plans to have the team initially play at the Delta Center before eventually moving to a newly constructed arena that would also house the Utah Jazz.

Supporting Smith's vision, the Utah State Legislature recently passed a bill, signed by Governor Spencer Cox, that would provide funding for the new arena. Smith even took to social media earlier this week, asking fans for suggestions on a nickname for the proposed Utah NHL team.

For years, the Coyotes have struggled to find a permanent home they own within Arizona, currently playing in a 4,600-seat arena located on the Arizona State University campus. If the potential move to Salt Lake City materializes, it would mark a significant milestone for hockey fans in Utah and the growth of the sport within the region.

Please note that all information in this article is derived from sources cited in the provided text.