It's not for nothing that Gary Bettman has been the NHL commissioner since 1993; he has accomplished great things, but now he has just suffered a major defeat.
Bettman has been fighting for a long time to keep hockey in Arizona, convinced that there is a viable market there.
Running out of options, he finally agreed to relocate the team to Utah to give owner Alex Meruelo time to build a new arena.
He gave him five years and 1 billion for a struggling franchise. It's a huge expense for the NHL, especially at this point of persistence.
Of course, hockey in Arizona brought Auston Matthews into the NHL, but also a lot of revenue losses. The franchise has never been profitable. On the contrary, it has been a burden all along.
A lamentable defeat for Bettman
While Meruelo had a contract with Bettman for the new arena and to bring an expansion team there, he decided to abandon the project and walk away with his billion.
"Craig Morgan from GoPHNX reported that Meruelo, out of plans, decided to abandon the project.
As a result, the Arizona Coyotes, as we knew them, cease to exist." - RDT
Already, the commissioner has been losing face for more than 15 years by persisting with this project, and he loses even more today.
It's a big problem for the NHL, the way the Coyotes have been managed from the start. Let's just say it doesn't improve Gary's popularity vote.
