Arizona Coyotes' move to Utah dashes hopes of NHL return to Hartford

News of the Arizona Coyotes' relocation plans for Salt Lake City, Utah ended the slim hopes Gov. Ned Lamont and Hartford Whalers fans had bringing an NHL team back to Hartford. ESPN reported that the NHL is moving the Coyotes to Salt Lake City to become a new franchise. Ryan and Ashley Smith of Smith Entertainment Group bought the team and its existing hockey assets for $1.2 billion from Alex Meruelo, ESPN reported.