The NHL’s potential return to Arizona just got a lot more interesting.
Tom Galvin, the new president of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, is making waves with his push to bring hockey back to the desert. He’s already put together a team of political and business leaders to make it happen.
And he’s got the NHL’s attention.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had a Zoom meeting with Galvin before Christmas, showing this isn’t just talk – there’s real momentum building.
Hockey insider Pierre LeBrun says the NHL is definitely interested in giving Arizona another shot. “The NHL would like to go back to that market one day,” he explains. But there are two big conditions: new ownership and a proper arena solution.
This news isn’t great for Quebec Nordiques fans, who’ve been hoping to see their beloved team return. Arizona now joins a growing list of cities – including Kansas City, Houston, and Atlanta – that could land an NHL team before Quebec City.
We’ve seen how fast things can move when Bettman and the NHL get serious about a market. Just look at what happened with Utah’s recent NBA expansion talks and Seattle’s quick path to landing the Kraken.
The next few months will be crucial for Arizona’s hockey future. But one thing’s clear: the desert might not stay without NHL hockey for long.
The big question now isn’t just whether the Coyotes will return – it’s whether they’ll beat the Nordiques back to the NHL.
