Next stop, Houston? Coyotes to move to Central Division

PHOTOS: 10 reasons Houston should have an NHL team GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 01: Adin Hill #31 of the Arizona Coyotes and teammates stand on the blue line during the playing of the national anthem against the St Louis Blues at Gila River Arena on December 1, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) >>>Browse through the photos for a closer look at why Houston should have an NHL team ... less PHOTOS: 10 reasons Houston should have an NHL team GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 01: Adin Hill #31 of the Arizona Coyotes and teammates stand on the blue line during the playing of the national anthem against the ... more Photo: Norm Hall/NHLI Via Getty Images Photo: Norm Hall/NHLI Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Next stop, Houston? Coyotes to move to Central Division 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

The NHL Board of Governors voted to move the Arizona Coyotes to the Central Division from the Pacific, the league announced Tuesday.

The decision corresponds with the league’s move to bring in a 32nd franchise in Seattle, which will occupy the Coyotes’ spot in the Pacific starting in the 2021-22 season.

The Coyotes’ move to the Central, further away from their geographical rivals, stirs the pot when it comes to a potential relocation to Houston. On Saturday, Hockey Night in Canada’s Nick Kypreos speculated that if “no new money” appeared for the Coyotes, “Arizona could turn into Houston.”

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“New money” would not seem to be a problem in Houston. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has previously expressed interest in bringing the NHL to the Bayou City.

"I would put an NHL team here tomorrow," Fertitta told the Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen in October 2017, shortly after he purchased the Rockets. "This one has got to work. But I'd love to have the other dates in the building. Do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year? Definitely. We'll do whatever we can do, but whatever we do has to make sense.

"Will we be aggressive? Yes. That's my nature."