Houston Sports: The three best options for landing an NHL team in Houston

Arizona Coyotes

In 2017, Forbes ranked the Arizona Coyotes as the least valuable team in the entire NHL. They’re valued right at $300 million. This value and the fact that the Coyotes bring in the least amount of attendees per game in the league make them a prime candidate for relocation.

They’ve been under new current ownership since 2015 and the team has done nothing but continue in their decline since then. The Coyotes haven’t had a winning season since a three-year winning stretch from the 2009-10 season to the 2011-12 season. Since then, they’ve gotten worse every year, finishing no higher than fourth.

Because of all that, the Coyotes are a prime candidate for relocation and even a potential sale. Tilman Fertitta has expressed interest in bringing hockey back to Houston before and could easily either buy the team outright or lead an investor group.

Like the other teams on this list, the Coyotes have arena issues and have been seeking a new home but to no avail. This could potentially be the biggest lynchpin in getting the team to Houston as this city has the Toyota Center which is easily converted to house hockey games.

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The Houston Coyotes has a nice ring to it if you ask me. Plus, the current color scheme is reminiscent of the uniforms the Houston Astros wore during the mid-2000s, so there is definitely a nostalgia aspect here as well.

The Coyotes leading goal scorer from last season, Clayton Keller, is just turning 20 this season and figures to keep growing his game. The current goalie for the team, Antti Raanta, also had the second best save percentage of all goalies last year despite the team having a subpar year overall.

This Coyotes team has some young pillars that a new city, like Houston, to rally around. They also appear most likely to relocate. Plus, a move to the central division opens up a spot in the western division for a Seattle expansion and an in-state rivalry with the Stars. This is the best option for adding hockey to the ranks of Houston sports.

All three of these teams could end up being the next big Houston sports team. However, the Coyotes seem the most likely. So, Houston hockey fans, don’t give up hope yet, a move appears to be around the corner.