Utah Hockey Club makes playoffs in second season after move

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The Utah Hockey Club, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, has made the playoffs in just their second season after relocating to Salt Lake City. The team saw a significant improvement, winning 8 more games than the previous season when they were still based in Arizona.

Why it matters

The rapid turnaround for the Utah Hockey Club highlights the potential benefits of relocating a struggling franchise to a new market. The move to Salt Lake City appears to have energized the team and fanbase, putting the club on a path to becoming a competitive NHL contender.

The details

After years of incremental progress as the Arizona Coyotes, the team underwent a full rebuild following their relocation to Salt Lake City. In their first season as the Utah Hockey Club, the team won 8 more games than the previous year, putting them in playoff position heading into the second season in their new home.

• The Utah Hockey Club, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, relocated to Salt Lake City prior to the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.
• In their first season as the Utah Hockey Club, the team won 8 more games than the previous year when they were still the Arizona Coyotes.
• The Utah Hockey Club has now made the playoffs in just their second season after the move to Salt Lake City.

What’s next

The Utah Hockey Club will look to build on their surprising playoff berth as they continue to develop their young core and establish themselves as a contender in the NHL's Western Conference.