Seattle was today named as the future 32nd NHL franchise and part of the deal will see the Arizona Coyotes shifted into the Central Division.
The Arizona Coyotes are set to move into the Central Division once the new Seattle franchise begins to play from the 2021/22 season – giving the team just over two more seasons in the Pacific.
The move will see the Coyotes moved away from their geographical rivals, with the Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks being the three closest teams currently.
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A change in division will now see the Phoenix-based club come up against the Nashville Predators, the new Winnipeg Jets and frequent trade partners the Chicago Blackhawks.
A rivalry between Winnipeg and Arizona could develop nicely due to the two team’s interesting history, thanks to the Coyotes being the original Winnipeg Jets before relocating to the desert.
The biggest concern for Coyotes fans will be the relative strength of the Central compared to the current Pacific Division.
The top-ranked team in the Pacific currently, the Calgary Flames, would sit third or fourth in the Central based on current point totals.
The Coyotes themselves wouldn’t remain third-bottom in the division, three points above the Blackhawks, but would be significantly further behind the top teams.
Club President and CEO Ahron Cohen made a statement, published to the team’s official Twitter account, suggesting that the team is willing to work alongside the league to accommodate Seattle’s entry into the league and ensure that the Coyotes’ move into the Central is done so smoothly.
A message from CEO Ahron Cohen:
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 4, 2018
>> https://t.co/tIYlZAPZ0r pic.twitter.com/tMrKvC6KqO
The move could, however, reignite talks about the team looking to relocate, most likely to Houston, something that would be a huge disappointment for the club’s dedicated fanbase.
With Houston viewed as an ideal location for either a future relocation or expansion, rumours will likely abound in the media about the possibility of the Arizona Coyotes being moved for the second time in franchise history (the first being from Winnipeg to Phoenix).
While the club’s ownership will no doubt reinforce their strong desire to keep the club in the desert, it makes sense that rumours will crop up and fans will unfortunately need to prepare for it being mentioned more often in the future.
What do you think Coyotes fans? Are you disappointed with the news? Do you think this will impact the team’s future in the desert or are you just excited to see new rivalries? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!