Arizona Coyotes making an attempt to take issues ‘daily’ as transfer to Utah looms

SALT LAKE CITY — Arizona Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny thought he was achieved coping with new stuff after 30 years teaching hockey.

“My spouse texted me yesterday, she stated, ‘You’ve got coached 30 years. I believed we have seen all the pieces?'”

They have been improper.

There had at all times been some uncertainty across the Arizona franchise — failed makes an attempt to discover a everlasting dwelling can have that impact — however Wednesday’s information that the NHL was getting ready another schedule for the Coyotes in case of a transfer to Utah made the rumors really feel extra official.

And for probably the most half, the Coyotes have been left in the dead of night. They have been compelled to exit and play on Wednesday night time — delivering an exhilarating efficiency in a 4-3 extra time victory over the Vancouver Canucks — with the load of the precariousness scenario totally on them.

“All through this complete time, there hasn’t been a ton of debate on what is going on on I suppose,” ahead Clayton Keller advised reporters Friday. “We’re simply form of taking it daily. We have heard various things right here and there, and none of them are actually true, so we simply form of be taught from that and take it daily.”

Is that this one other rumor that might be confirmed improper? Proper now, it appears like there’s an excessive amount of smoke for that to be the case.

Smith Leisure Group — the Ryan Smith-led enterprise that has made it clear it desires to deliver a hockey crew to Utah — has declined to touch upon the scenario a number of instances since Wednesday. However momentum retains constructing for an NHL crew to quickly be in Utah.

There have been studies {that a} relocation announcement could possibly be made as quickly as April 18 — the day following the Coyotes’ season finale.

On Friday, the crew’s normal supervisor flew to Edmonton, Canada, the place the Coyotes are set to play the Oilers, for a particular crew assembly.

“It may be vital,” ahead Lawson Crouse stated of the assembly. “Who is aware of what he’ll say, however it will likely be an vital discuss for certain.”

He later added, “We do not know greater than what everybody else is seeing.”

Tourigny understands the lack of know-how, although. He assumes the higher-ups wish to hold the crew within the loop, however sure issues cannot be shared.

“There’s stuff your boss can’t let you know, there’s stuff my boss can’t inform me, and I am OK with that,” the coach stated. “And the gamers need to be OK (with that) — that is a part of life.”

Within the meantime, the crew is just making an attempt to dam out the noise surrounding their immediately very unsure future and give attention to enjoying.

“We’re simply anxious about tonight and controlling what we are able to management. That is all we are able to take into consideration,” Crouse stated.