TEMPE – For NHL fans in Arizona, Saturday will look a little different. The Toronto Maple Leafs are bringing their team to Mullett Arena for an open practice, giving fans something they have been missing since NHL hockey left the Valley, which is a chance to see an NHL team take the ice in Arizona.
Oct 28, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; A general view prior to the game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Winnipeg Jets at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Maple Leafs hold practice at ASU’s Mullett Arena:
AZ natives Auston Matthew, Matthew Knies, former Coyotes GM John Chayka and the Toronto Maple Leafs will hold a portion of training camp at Mullett Arena.
cc: @leahmerrall https://t.co/JNqkbwb3WP— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) September 24, 2026
Technically, it is only practice. Emotionally, it can mean much more. Toronto’s connection to Arizona makes the visit particularly fitting. Captain Auston Matthews grew up in Scottsdale and has long represented one of the most prominent links between Arizona and the NHL. Matthew Knies, meanwhile, is a Phoenix native who also came through the area’s youth hockey system before reaching Toronto. That makes Saturday less like a random preseason stop and more like a homecoming.
Feb 19, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Toronto center Auston Matthews (34) reacts after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Knies has previously acknowledged how much he misses the Coyotes, making his return particularly meaningful. For him, Arizona is not simply another NHL market. It is where his hockey story began. The Coyotes may no longer be playing in Mullett Arena, but the people who filled those seats did not suddenly stop being hockey fans. Saturday gives them an opportunity to reconnect with the sport at the NHL level, even if there is no game attached to it.
Feb 29, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto forward Matthew Knies (23) controls the puck against Arizona Coyotes defenseman Michael Kesselring (5) during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
It also provides a glimpse at what an NHL return could look like. Nothing about one Maple Leafs practice guarantees the Coyotes will return. But an arena filled with Arizona hockey fans watching NHL talent is a useful reminder that the relationship between this market and professional hockey is not gone. For one Saturday, at least, NHL hockey is coming back to Arizona.
Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
