Latest Phoenix Coyotes Purchase Offer May Have the Inside Track

Jim Balsillie's battle to win ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes may have new competition.

Scott Cohen, a lawyer for Coyotes' minority owner John Breslow, has told a group of media sources  including The Globe and Mail, that his client would be interested in taking full ownership.

Breslow's group would want to keep the NHL team in the current location of Glendale, AZ and has already filed a confidential statement to U.S. bankruptcy court in support of the NHL's bid to block the sale of the Coyotes.

Breslow, who has a two-percent stake in the struggling franchise, proposal will have his proposal weighed in amongst the legal arguments from both the NHL and Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes as to whether the team can be relocated as part of a sale to remove it from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

That decision is expected to be rendered on June 22 by Judge Redfield Baum, at which time a timetable will be set for interested parties to make formal bids.

The eventual owner will be determined at a court-supervised auction..

Cohen also told The Globe and Mail that Breslow has already sent a formal proposal to the NHL that may require alteration depending on how the court decides to proceed with the sale process.

Balsillie announced that he intends to officially file his $212.5-million bid for the Coyotes to the NHL, along with paperwork requesting permission to relocate the franchise to Hamilton.

The Blackberry billionaire's procedures were questioned by Judge Baum as to why his paperwork was yet to be filed, indicating in court that Balsillie's antitrust lawsuit against the NHL isn't very relevant if the league hasn't even received his bid.

"I don't think it occurred to anyone with a fair sense of how the NHL would handle things that the application would be accepted or dealt with," said Richard Rodier, Balsillie's right-hand man in these proceedings.

"I think now that the judge has made his feelings known, the application will be dealt with in some manner."

In the meantime, Judge Baum has instructed lawyers for Moyes and the NHL to sit down together and try to work out who currently controls the team.

An update on mediation is expected on May 23, but may be irrelevant as the NHL stated that the Coyotes would remain in bankruptcy, even if awarded to be under league control.

"We're committed to going through a sale auction that's going to be overseen by the court," said deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

The entire process could bring many bids, as well as one from Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

NHLPA director Paul Kelly still remains concerned about the situation in terms of free agent signings, the upcoming NHL Draft, and potential scheduling issues if the team is moved.

"Our principal interest is in protecting the rights and interests of our players," Kelly said in a statement.

"Hopefully the court will make a ruling on June 22 so that the status of this franchise is clarified and the uncertainty is behind us."