Coyotes fans: How about staging one last Whiteout at Gila River Arena?

It has been 10 years since the Coyotes hosted an April Whiteout at Gila River Arena; 10 years since the venue hosted a playoff game. 

It would be nice to change the latter, but it may be time to change the former.

The Coyotes obviously won’t be participating in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but there is some symmetry to the fact that their final game at Gila River Arena before moving to ASU’s multi-purpose arena will come against the Nashville Predators. The Predators were the opponent for the Coyotes’ first game at Gila River Arena on Dec. 27, 2003, but they were also the last team that the Coyotes defeated in the standard playoffs (in 2012) in front of those white-clad fans, and the last team that the Coyotes defeated in any postseason format (the 2020 qualifying round).

I still remember the feeling in the arena when the Coyotes closed out the Predators, 2-1, in Game 6 of the 2012 Western Conference semifinals behind goals from Derek Morris, Martin Hanzal and 32 saves from Mike Smith. It was the best of times.

Look, everybody knew this break-up with Glendale had to come at some point. The relationship has been toxic for at least nine years, arguably longer. The only way to make NHL hockey work in Glendale is to field a consistent contender and that’s nearly impossible to do, given the economics of that market. A better location isn’t a cure-all but it’s one of the key ingredients to success.

The team’s long-term fate is still in limbo as it awaits a vote from the Tempe City Council on its proposed arena and entertainment district along the south bank of the Salt River, but the games in Glendale will end on Friday and the organization must vacate the premises by June 30, the end of the fiscal year which is also when its final payment to the City of Glendale is due.

A 19-year chapter in the franchise’s history will end. So why not go out in style? Sure, this relationship has been mostly dysfunctional, but we all had some good times together at GRA. 

Brian Boucher’s shutout streak was insane to watch. Mike Smith’s goalie goal against the Red Wings was the rarest of treats, and so was Shane Doan’s first career hat trick against the Islanders.

Doan’s retirement ceremony left a giant lump in our throats. So did Leighton Accardo’s rise into the ring of honor.

The return of the playoff Whiteout in 2010 was electric and the run to the Western Conference Final in 2012 remains the best memory in this franchise’s history. 

That all happened at Gila River Arena. So what do you think, Coyotes nation? Should we send the old, plumbing- and Wi-Fi-challenged barn out in style on Friday?

How about one more Whiteout to launch a new era of Coyotes hockey with some positive vibes? Maybe it won’t feel quite right without the playoffs or a sold-out building, but it’s the sentiment that counts, right?

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