from Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune,

Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith’s public bid for an NHL team didn’t come as a complete surprise this week. But the timing of the request was certainly up for debate.

Smith has talked about his desire to bring professional hockey to Utah for years. He’s had public discussions with NHL leaders — with the league receptive to the idea.

So why did he choose now to formally “initiate an expansion process” with the league?

“We basically decided if we’re going to go in, [then] we’ve got to go all the way in,” Smith said on the Pat McAfee show this week. “Like, we’re going have to come out and say that we’re ready, and be ready for everything that entails.

“Because unless we show the NHL that’s where we’re at, and have those discussions with them, it won’t work,” Smith said. “We get them in a spot where they’ve got to look at this and say, ‘Holy cow, like this is one of the youngest ownership groups in sports. Tech focus.’ I think if you put all that together, it’s a pretty compelling case.”

The NHL put out a statement, saying it “appreciates” Smith’s interest and would continue talks to bring a team to Utah.

“Them leaning in and saying, ‘Hey look, we know Utah is an incredible market. We haven’t been asleep,’” Smith said. “... I think that’s a really, really good approach — especially one from [commissioner] Gary [Bettman]. No one can see all of the future. But that’s a good acknowledgment of where we’re at.”

continued