TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Coyotes are officially headed to Salt Lake City.

The NHL Board of Governors voted Thursday to approve a $1.2 billion sale from Alex Meruelo to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, clearing the way for the franchise’s move to Utah next season.

The deal includes a provision for Arizona to get an expansion team if a new arena is built within the next five years.

The deal will be facilitated through the NHL, with $200 million going to league owners as a relocation fee.

INJURIES ARE A PART OF NBA PLAY-IN

MIAMI (AP) — All four teams in the finales of the NBA play-in tournament on Friday night are dealing with injury issues.

Chicago goes to Miami and then Sacramento plays at New Orleans.

The winner of the Bulls-Heat game meets Boston in Round 1 and the Kings-Pelicans winner meets Oklahoma City.

The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier for their game against the Bulls, who had guard Alex Caruso go down to a sprained ankle in Wednesday’s win over Atlanta.

The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson because of a hamstring injury.

NFL DRAFT COULD SET A RECORD

By The Associated Press

The 2024 NFL draft has the potential to set a record for most players on offense selected in the first round.

No draft has seen more than 19 players on offense chosen in the first round.

That happened three times, most recently in 2009.

Many draft experts are predicting more than 20 offensive players will go in the first round and some have up to 25.

The AP’s final mock draft had 22 going in the first round, including 10 offensive linemen, six wide receivers, five quarterbacks and one tight end.

Only once in the past 57 years have the first seven picks all been offensive players.

That last happened in 2021.

VIRGINIA LAW ALLOWS NIL DEALS

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s governor has signed a law that allows state colleges and universities to directly pay athletes through name, image and likeness endorsement deals.

The law signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin bypasses NCAA rules. It takes effect on July 1.

NIL rules, enacted in 2021, allow college athletes to agree to deals with brands and businesses that compensate them for advertising or personal appearances.

The NCAA says rules against “pay for play” and schools directly paying their athletes remain in place.

“The Virginia decision — by the lawmakers there and the governor to sign it — I think really kickstarts it and puts it right at all of our doorsteps,” Manuel said in an interview with The Associated Press.