Arizona State is trying to bring the NHL back to the desert.

Tom Galvin, newly elected chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, will form a committee of political and business leaders aimed at bringing the NHL back to Arizona, according to Craig Morgan. It is said that they are doing so.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Morgan that he discussed the possibility with Galvin on Zoom before Christmas.

The NHL Board of Governors approved the Arizona Coyotes’ move to Utah in April. The team was acquired by Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith in a league-brokered $1.2 billion deal.

In late June, Bettman confirmed that Meruelo told the team he would not pursue reinvigorating the Coyotes after hockey operations moved to Utah.

Meruelo has decided to stop looking for another arena option after another bid for a new location fell through.

Meruelo retained rights to the Coyotes name, logo and trademark after selling the team to Smith Entertainment Group in April. It also gave them five years to build an arena and revitalize the Arizona franchise.

To restart the franchise, Meruelo would have needed to pay back the $1 billion he received when he sold the team.