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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes’ Clayton Keller on his first year in the NHL | 1:59
Coyotes rookie Clayton Keller talks with Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan about his first year in the NHL as the team cleans out its lockers following the end of the season on Monday. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes rookie Christian Dvorak on ‘year of ups and downs’ | 1:40
Coyotes rookie center Christian Dvorak talks with Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan about his ups and downs throughout his first NHL season on Monday. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes’ Jakob Chychrun sums up rookie season | 2:17
Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun discusses his rookie season with Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan at Gila River Arena on Monday. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShane Doan at Coyotes’ season-ending press conference | 1:54
Arizona Coyotes’ Shane Doan discusses the uncertainty that surrounds his future at a season-ending press conference on Monday at Gila River Arena. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSMax Domi talks to Sarah McLellan about offseason goals, plans | 1:16
Arizona Coyotes winger Max Domi talks with Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan about his plans and goals for the offseason as the Coyotes cleaned out lockers on Monday at Gila River Arena. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes coach Dave Tippett wraps up 2016-17 season | 2:01
Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett sums up the 2016-17 season and looks forward to what is needed to improve next year at a press conference at Gila River Arena on Monday. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Wild | 0:31
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-1 loss to the Wild.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes conclude season with 3-1 loss to the Wild | 1:50
Coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, defenseman Zbynek Michalek and goalie Mike Smith react to the team’s final game of the season.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes recognize Roadrunners captain Craig Cunningham | 0:50
Roadrunners captain Craig Cunningham was recognized during a ceremonial puck drop before Saturday’s season finale.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Canucks | 0:35
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-3 win over the Canucks.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to win over Canucks | 1:17
Coach Dave Tippett, winger Radim Vrbata, winger Max Domi, center Alexander Burmistrov and defenseman Luke Schenn react to the win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Young Coyotes standouts provide hope | 1:56
Three players emerge as the Coyotes’ season winds down. Sarah McLellan and Jay Dieffenbach discuss them, the NBA MVP race and more.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes fall in overtime to Stars | 0:46
Coach Dave Tippett, winger Max Domi, defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and winger Anthony Duclair react to Tuesday’s 3-2 loss in Dallas. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Stars | 0:28
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars on Tuesday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Kings | 0:35
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 2-1 win over the Kings.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes eliminate Kings from playoffs with 2-1 win | 1:02
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, center Alexander Burmistrov and winger Anthony Duclair react to the win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Capitals | 0:25
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 6-3 win over the Capitals.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes snap losing streak against Capitals | 0:58
Coach Dave Tippett, center Christian Dvorak, goalie Louis Domingue and center Alexander Burmistrov react to the 6-3 win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Blues | 0:24
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-1 loss to the Blues.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to 3-1 loss to Blues | 1:14
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Alex Goligoski, goalie Louis Domingue and winger Clayton Keller react to the loss.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Blues | 0:33
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-1 loss to the Blues. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes cap road trip with 4-1 loss to Blues | 0:58
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, winger Clayton Keller, center Alexander Burmistrov and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo react to the loss. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSForward Clayton Keller set to begin pro career with Coyotes | 0:47
Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Coyotes on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSU.S. women’s hockey team boycotting world championship | 0:52
USA TODAY Sports’ A.J. Perez explains why the USA women’s hockey team is boycotting the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship.
USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Capitals | 0:33
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and the minus in the 4-1 loss to the Capitals.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCapitals pull away from Coyotes with 3-goal third | 0:53
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith and center Jordan Martinook react to the 4-1 loss. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Panthers | 0:29
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-1 loss to the Panthers.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSUnusual goal sparks Panthers to win over Coyotes | 1:15
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, winger Tobias Rieder and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to the 3-1 loss.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Lightning | 0:38
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-3 win over the Lightning. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes rally past the Lightning | 0:54
Coach Dave Tippett, winger Radim Vrbata, winger Christian Fischer and winger Anthony Duclair react to the 5-3 win. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Predators | 0:30
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-1 loss to the Predators.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes open road trip with 3-1 loss to Predators | 1:07
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, winger Jamie McGinn and defenseman Zbynek Michalek.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Blues | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-0 loss to the Blues.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes shut out 3-0 by the Blues | 1:40
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Luke Schenn and goalie Mike Smith react to the loss on Saturday at Gila River Arena. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Red Wings | 0:36
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes clipped by Red Wings 5-4 in a shootout | 1:20
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, winger Radim Vrbata and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to the loss.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Kings | 0:31
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 shootout win over the Kings, Mar. 14, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes outlast Kings in 11-round shootout | 1:08
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Louis Domingue, defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and winger Max Domi react to the 3-2 shootout win against the Kings, Mar. 14, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Avalanche | 0:32
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 1-0 win over the Avalanche, Mar. 13, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes blank Avalanche 1-0 | 1:19
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, captain Shane Doan and winger Brendan Perlini react to the win, Mar. 13, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Devils | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-4 win over the Devils on Saturday.
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The long-running ownership shuffle of the Coyotes has begun a new era as Andrew Barroway is now the sole owner of the franchise.
Barroway closed on his purchase of the team’s minority owners Monday, NHL sources confirmed, ending months of speculation that he was attempting to buy out his partners.
A nine-person ownership team had been in place with Barroway, a Philadelphia hedge-fund manager, at the helm as the majority owner, chairman and governor after he bought a 51-percent stake in 2014 for $152.5 million.
Barroway wasn’t available for comment, a team spokesman said. The Coyotes and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly issued the same statement, saying: “The reorganization is an effort to consolidate and strengthen the ownership and to resolve various disputes among the existing owners. We believe this will better position the Club to achieve a long-term solution in the Valley.”
SOURCES: Andrew Barroway buys out Coyotes minority owners
One former minority owner said this shift probably makes it easier for Barroway to execute his ideas. The former owner also believes Barroway’s desire to have more control shows his conviction in the organization.
“It’s kind of difficult to manage a business with too many cooks in the kitchen,” the former owner said. “So I’m sure from Andy’s perspective it just made sense when he had the ability to consolidate ownership. Then it’s kind of 100 percent his vision and his strategy going forward.”
This move is the latest change to hit an organization that has been in near-constant flux since it was placed in bankruptcy by former owner Jerry Moyes in 2009. The NHL salvaged the team, owning and operating it until an investment group headed by Canadian businessmen purchased the club in 2013 for $170 million. Anthony LeBlanc went on to become president and CEO with Gary Drummond acting as president of hockey operations last season and George Gosbee the team’s alternate governor.
The group’s arrival coincided with a 15-year, $225 million arena management deal with the city of Glendale, but Glendale nixed the agreement in 2015. Although the Coyotes have continued to play in Gila River Arena, signing a two-year lease before re-upping for the upcoming 2017-18 season, they’ve been on the lookout for other landing spots in the Valley.
MOORE: With a sole owner in place, here’s a priority list for the Coyotes
Last November, the team announced a plan to partner with Arizona State and move to Tempe but ASU backed out of the proposal earlier this year.
Other options still exist – such as the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and downtown Phoenix.
Suns owner Robert Sarver has said the team needs a new building, but he may not be in favor of sharing a venue – and the profits generated from it.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton has supported the idea of a facility that houses the Coyotes and the Suns and, while a new arena has been discussed, the city has also hired a consultant to look at what it would take to upgrade Talking Stick Resort Arena and whether it could be compatible with a hockey team.
The Suns declined comment.
Amid all this, the NHL has continued to advocate for keeping the Coyotes in the Valley.
In March, Commissioner Gary Bettman sent a three-page letter to Arizona legislative leaders encouraging them to pass a public-financing bill for a new arena in the East Valley or downtown Phoenix. The bill ended up dying awaiting a vote.
RELATED: Rebuilding Coyotes still frustrated by playoff drought
As for Barroway, he is committed to finding a long-term home for the Coyotes in the Valley, an NHL source said, and has begun a search for a new CEO to lead the team and help with the organization’s pursuit for a new arena.
But Barroway added to the uncertainty of the team’s footing in the state with a statement he released in March that said, in part, if the franchise reaches a point “where there is simply no longer a path forward in Arizona,” then the organization “will work with our partners in the League office and across the NHL to determine our next steps.”
At this point, it’s unclear what Barroway’s plans for the franchise are – off the ice and on it. And the spotlight on the hockey product is going to grow as the team embarks on one of the busier stretches of the offseason with the expansion-draft process beginning this week, the entry draft June 23-24 and the free-agent signing window opening July 1.
While they were wards of the league for four years, the Coyotes operated on a shoestring budget but they didn’t exactly go on a spending spree once they secured outside ownership. They have signed players to lucrative deals with goaltender Mike Smith receiving a six-year, $34 million contract, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the midst of a six-year, $33 million deal and defenseman Alex Goligoski landing a five-year, $27.375 million commitment just last summer.
But Arizona has yet to rank among the league’s top spenders.
Once Barroway joined the mix, he could have been the one setting the financial parameters since he was the majority owner. Or the decision could have been group-based with all owners giving their input.
MORE: Coyotes’ Dylan Strome faces pivotal summer as he prepares to turn pro
With that in mind, it’s tough to say whether the direction of the organization the past few seasons has been a reflection of Barroway’s influence or the entire committee’s philosophy.
More of the same could be on tap, a patience-required rebuild that is being coaxed along by a young lineup against the backdrop of a franchise that captain Shane Doan described a few months ago as simply trying to survive rather than thrive.
Or maybe a makeover is brewing, one that accelerates progress or even does the opposite by adding more growing pains to a team that’s missed out on the playoffs for the past five years – a dry spell goalie Smith called “unacceptable” at the end of last season.
Clarity should arrive soon with the league’s upcoming itinerary certainly conducive to roster reconstruction.
If the upper limit of the salary cap remains flat at $73 million, the Coyotes have almost $26 million in wiggle room, according to capfriendly.com, and would have some work to do just to get to the floor. The estimated total of all the salaries currently on their books is just over $50 million. Arizona had seven players on its season-ending roster on entry-level contracts worth less than $1 million, and that number could grow if the likes of Dylan Strome and Christian Fischer make the team.
General Manager John Chayka said his spending budget for the offseason has been finalized but there is flexibility in the event “special opportunities arise.”
Asked whether this budget is higher or lower than what it was last summer, Chayka wrote, “I don’t see any advantage to making our budget plans publicly available. Resources will not be an excuse for this group.”
This makes it unclear whether Barroway, who is undoubtedly making the decision now, has increased or decreased the team’s payroll, but announcing a spike – if that were the case – would seem like an easy way to stir excitement after another down performance.
It could have also framed realistic expectations for the summer and next season.
For the time being, those, too, are up in the air.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.