A spokesperson for the league said lawyers for the NHL would appear in federal bankruptcy court in Phoenix on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Spokesperson Frank Brown would not say what action the NHL would take in court - but earlier Wednesday NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said whether team owner Jerry Moyes had the authority to file for bankruptcy is "something we're going to look into."

Bettman wants to keep the Coyotes in Arizona. He expressed doubt on Wednesday that Balsillie could convince league owners to allow him to purchase the team.

Balsillie made a $212.5-million offer on Tuesday to purchase the ailing NHL franchise, on the condition that he can move the team to Southern Ontario.

The offer has not impressed Bettman, who has clashed with Balsillie in the past over his previous attempts to purchase an NHL franchise.

"I don't know whether or not he could get approved," Bettman said Wednesday during a meeting of commissioners from the four major professional sports leagues. "That's, as I said, something I don't get a vote on. If in fact it becomes an issue for board consideration, the board of governors of the league will make that decision." Source.