Report: NHL will sell Phoenix Coyotes to Gosbee/LeBlanc group

According to a report, the Phoenix Coyotes will be sold to the Renaissance Sports and Entertainment group.

By Andrew DeWitt

May 24, 2013 at 6:51 pm ET • 1 min read

Could the Phoenix Coyotes ownership saga finally be coming to a close?

According to Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona, that appears to be the case. Morgan reports that the NHL, which has owned the Coyotes since 2009 when the team entered bankruptcy, will sell the team to Renaissance Sports and Entertainment (RSE) if RSE can reach an arena-management agreement with the City of Glendale where the Coyotes play their games at Jobing.com Arena.

RSE is led by George Gosbee and Anthony LeBlanc.

There are still a few hurdles for the NHL and the new ownership group to hammer out with the City of Glendale for the deal to be complete. Morgan reports that RSE wants Glendale to pay the Coyotes between $13-15 million a year to manage the arena. Glendale has only budgeted $6 million.

The NHL, RSE and the City of Glendale will meet on Tuesday in an attempt to come to an agreement.

The Coyotes recently signed GM Don Maloney to a new contract and now must pursue a new contract with coach Dave Tippett, who is rumored to be a candidate for the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks openings. His contract expires on July 1.