Jazz Owner Ryan Smith Requests Expansion For NHL Team

Jazz Owner Ryan Smith Requests Expansion For NHL Team

Ryan Smith is one of the NBA’s newest owners, purchasing the Utah Jazz in 2020. However, it appears he would like that distinction in the NHL as well. Earlier today, the 46-year-old released a statement through his Smith Entertainment Group asking the league to look into forming a new franchise. This is not the first time he’s knocked on the NHL’s door. Read the entire statement yourself, as well as the NHL’s response:

Smith Entertainment Group — owners of the Utah Jazz — ask NHL to “initiate an expansion process” to bring a team to the state. pic.twitter.com/2xq5MAr4p5

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 24, 2024

NHL Statement on the Smith Entertainment Group: https://t.co/q5dzjaAhws pic.twitter.com/MLick3gxX3

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 24, 2024

This is a quick tangent: Does this timing seem suspicious to you? Minutes after Rick Westhead drops a bombshell about the 2018 WJC scandal, we have this break as well? I won’t waste too much time on this.

Five players are about to be in custody for sexual assault. Yet, this looks to me like yet another smokescreen and PR damage control from Gary Bettman. Scandals happen in every sport, but the way the NHL handles things is embarrassing.

This is not the first time this league has put egg on its own face. This stuff is exactly why I am worried hockey will fade out of the mainstream sports world. If you have accountable and intelligent people in charge then this would go much differently, and the Stanley Cup would gain the respect it truly deserves. End of a side note.

Does The Shoe Fit?

The idea of having a team in Utah is definitely an interesting one. The Jazz is currently the only pro sports team in the area. There are NHL teams in three neighboring states: Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. If creating a 33rd team doesn’t make sense, then why not do some relocating?

The Coyotes are not a terrible team, but they still play in a college arena with a brand new arena still steps away. Smith did indicate a new arena would have to be built instead of having the Delta Center host. Furthermore, if he is this vocal about owning a team, you can only assume he will care about building a winner quickly once he has one. I also don’t hate Utah as a hockey market; it makes much more sense than in the middle of Arizona, am I right?

Utah has already hosted an NHL competition back in 2018 during the LA Kings’ postseason. While I would like to see the Coyotes shuttered, it looks more and more apparent that another expansion draft would likely take place. The question is: Would it be the Pacific or Central division that holds nine teams?

Ryan Smith is once again knocking on the NHL’s door to have a team. While the timing is not ideal, it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for.

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