NHL Rumours: Arizona Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins

Analysis: It’s still early in the process, but there’s a piece of land appraised at $68.5 million in Phoenix that’s for sale. Coyotes ownership hopes to buy that property and build an arena to keep the team in the state. However, there are a couple of factors in the way of closing the deal. The Arizona State Land Department can sell the land at auction, but the date for auction must be advertised for 10 weeks. An exact date has not been set, but that puts things on track to not happen before late May or early June.

Friedman mentioned that people should not underestimate the Coyotes’ ownership in being able to acquire the land. Winning the auction would allow the franchise to stay in the state with a more secure future.

Unfortunately, losing the auction would force ownership to seek a different path. NHL rumours would be flying as relocation would be on the table for the Coyotes and there are cities like Salt Lake City, Utah and Atlanta, Georgia itching to get teams. Moving to Salt Lake City would allow the team to likely stay in the Central Division with rivals like the Colorado Avalanche and others.

There may finally be light at the end of the tunnel. However, there may still be some twists and turns until there’s a resolution.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Rumour: The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman stated on the Jeff Marek Show on Sportsnet 590 that the Penguins may have a hard choice regarding their first-round pick.

Analysis: Goldman said that the Penguins could send their protected 2024 first-round pick in the NHL Draft. If Pittsburgh doesn’t send the pick this year, it will send San Jose their unprotected first-rounder in 2025. The pick is in play from the Penguins making the Erik Karlsson deal with the Sharks over the summer.

General Manager Kyle Dubas might surrender the pick this year because there may not be many players that could help the team right away. This could allow the Penguins a chance to keep the 2025 first-round pick or move in part of another big deal. A lot of the NHL rumours surrounding the Penguins are that Dubas seems to be on a mission to get Sidney Crosby one more run at a Stanley Cup Championship.

Crosby has one more year left on his contract and the future is unknown after that point. Dubas seemingly wants to give it one more run before there needs to be a decision about Crosby’s future in the Steel City. There are two goals on Crosby’s mind. One is another Stanley Cup and the other is a spot on the 2026 Olympic roster for Team Canada.

Goldman said that she would give up the pick for those reasons to give Pittsburgh some flexibility. The Penguins are likely to finish in the lottery barring some late-season revival from the team. Sharks General Manager Mike Grier probably won’t complain in getting another high draft choice as part of his rebuild plan.