It appears the Phoenix Coyotes will get at least one more season to remain in the city of Glendale, Ariz., and figure out its ownership problems. The Glendale City Council voted late Tuesday night to give approval to its city manager the means to guarantee any operating losses should the NHL continue to own the team, as it has for the past year, while it continues the search for a new owner.
If the Coyotes were to move out of the NHL’s Pacific Division this year, however, the Avalanche would take their place and move out of the Northwest Division.
That is according to an NHL “contingency” schedule in place should the Coyotes move. The Canadian Broadcasting Company network reported Tuesday the NHL’s contingency schedule has a team from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that would play in the Northwest Division, and Colorado would move to the Pacific.
The Avs played in the Pacific Division from 1995-98, winning three consecutive division titles, before moving to the Northwest for the 1998-99 season.
“It’s too early to speculate on this,” Avalanche vice president Jean Martineau said. “We have not been informed of anything official in this regard.”
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly declined comment on the matter, but told the Glendale City Council on Tuesday night that the league was confident it would have a new owner in place by the end of the summer and, therefore, not need any financial guarantees from the city once that happens.
The Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season, but the city has clamored for a new team since building a new arena, the MTS Centre, in 2004. Despite being a playoff team this season, the Coyotes have lost tens of millions of dollars in recent years and finished last in NHL attendance again this season. The NHL was forced to take control of the team last year and has been looking for a buyer to keep the team in Glendale, but talks with several suitors have fallen through.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
