It was six weeks ago when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman first told Alex Meruelo that he would have to give up ownership of the Arizona Coyotes at the end of the season. The news did not go over well.

Go ahead and blame whoever you want for the Coyotes exit, but don’t you ever blame Gary Bettman or the NHL. They tried. They really tried. Bettman’s dream was to make Phoenix one of the pearls ...

While at the NHL All-Star Game, Bettman fielded questions regarding the Coyotes’ future as the team searches for a permanent home in the East Valley.