Clayton Kellerofficers met with Arizona Coyotes Thursday to discuss the future of the organization on and off the ice.
While there is no formal trade request from Keller at this time, reps for forward Brian and Scott Bartlett have met with the team to get some clarification on the future direction of the franchise, said reported Elliotte Friedman on Friday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
Arizona had organizational expectations of a win, but fell short of those goals the past two seasons, posting a combined record of 53-90-21 in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
On a positive note, the Coyotes have two of the first 12 picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, along with a young roster and several intriguing prospects. Most notable of these is Logan Cooley, the 2023 3rd overall pick, who will return to the University of Minnesota for his second 2023-24 season.
Masterton Trophy runner-up Keller has enjoyed an outstanding 2022-23 campaign, scoring 37 goals and registering 49 assists at odds of minus two.
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Off the ice, the franchise will remain at Mullett Arena, which is the smallest arena in the league with a capacity of around 4,600, for the 2023-24 season, but beyond that the future is uncertain.
Although Tempe residents on Tuesday rejected a proposal to build a sports and entertainment district, Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez said the team is still looking to establish a home. permanent for the club in Arizona.
“While we are very disappointed that Tempe voters did not approve of the Entertainment District project, we would like to thank all of our loyal fans who have supported the Coyotes over the years,” Gutierrez wrote in a statement Wednesday. “Your loyalty is what makes our pack strong.
“During the 2023-24 season, the Arizona Coyotes will play at Mullett Arena. Additionally, we remain committed to Arizona and have already begun to reconnect with local officials and sites to solidify a new permanent home in the Valley.
“We look forward to sharing more with you in the weeks to come.”
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday he plans to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about the possibility of moving the Coyotes to Hartford.
Keller signed an eight-year, $57.2 million extension in the summer of 2019 and is under contract through the 2027-28 season.
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