Coyotes to buy Springfield Falcons, move AHL club to Tucson

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes have signed an agreement to purchase the Springfield Falcons and hope to move their AHL affiliate to Tucson.

The deal, announced Tuesday, must be approved by the NHL board of governors and is contingent upon signing a lease agreement.

The Coyotes hope to have the franchise play at the Tucson Convention Center and are in conversations for the team to play in the city for the 2016-17 AHL season.

The Coyotes had an affiliation with the Portland Pirates before signing a three-year deal with the Falcons in 2015. Springfield had previously been an affiliate with the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets.