If the Arizona Coyotes' latest arena plan doesn't pan out, will it spell the end of them in Arizona and the beginning of the NHL in Houston or Utah?

The Arizona Coyotes can't escape the relocation speculation.

The suspense only builds on whether they'll acquire the land they need to build a new arena and stay in Arizona after spending two seasons so far at Mullett Arena, with a 4,600-seat capacity for NHL games.

All eyes are on a June auction for 95 acres of land in northern Phoenix, with the bidding reportedly starting at $68.5 million. 

The goal for the Coyotes and the NHL is to try to keep a team in Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area. But there likely won't be time to relocate the Coyotes ahead of next season if they don't win the auction, which could mean they play next season in Mullett Arena without any acquired land for a new home and try again. That hasn't stopped speculation about which cities could be in line to host a relocated franchise.

So, where could the Coyotes go if their big plan to acquire land in Phoenix just doesn't pan out? Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos give their thoughts on The Hockey News Pre-Game Show (lightly edited for clarity):

Michael Traikos: Obviously, the Coyotes want to find a home in north Phoenix, but if this doesn't work out and they get outbid, does this spell the end of the Coyotes in Arizona? 

Ryan Kennedy: You know what? I mean, it's so hard to say because there have been so many times where we've asked, "Is this it for Arizona?" There have been so many potential arena sites that have fallen through, so many master plans that have looked awesome on paper and looked awesome in the renderings, and for one reason or another, they haven't worked there. I think, you know, at this point, this could be it. 

Now, I don't know much about this process, like how many people would be bidding for a big parcel of land that's worth at least $68.5 million? If it's an auction, obviously, it's going to be more if you're going to have multiple bidders. 

Michael Traikos: What would you put there if you bought that land? 

Ryan Kennedy: That's what I'm wondering. Like, is it a different kind of entertainment complex? Is it like a huge shopping mall? Is it just like housing? I have no idea. I'm not going to pretend that I know, but the fact that we have multiple big-market American cities that are interested in NHL franchises right now makes me think that if this one doesn't work, it would be the time to go right. 

So whether it's Houston, Utah... Atlanta, I feel is going to be expansion because the Gathering at South Forsyth is one of the groups that would like to bring a team back to Georgia. They're going to build a rink regardless, but it's going to take a bit of time. Houston (has) an arena already. Utah has an arena already, and an owner in Ryan Smith from the Utah Jazz who's super enthusiastic. So it feels like relocation would be either Utah or Houston. Then, it just becomes a matter of "OK, who can do it right now, and who is willing to wait for an expansion team two to three years down the line?" 

Michael Traikos: I keep telling myself that the NHL doesn't want to relocate for so many reasons. No. 1 is, you don't get an Auston Matthews unless you have the Coyotes team in Arizona. 

This has become (NHL commissioner Gary) Bettman's Waterloo, right, where he's willing to kind of die on this hill on Arizona. He doesn't want to take the team out. But for every reason you just mentioned, like when is enough enough? It's getting to that point, I think, where even Bettman might even say, "You know what? What am I fighting for here?" Like there are some viable markets now. Where's Arizona playing now? They're not in the Pacific. They're now in the Central, right? So what team makes sense if you're gonna have them in the Central?

Ryan Kennedy: I mean, Houston, that works, Utah works. Utah's more west, obviously.

Michael Traikos: Geographically, I could see Houston definitely being the spot that they land. It's gonna be a tricky one. Part of me just says Bettman is stubborn enough to make this drum on, and you're gonna get more money from expansion fees rather than relocation.

Check out the full episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show below.