NHL Files Lawsuit Against Former Coyotes Owner Jerry Moyes

NHL Seeking At Least $61.6M From Jerry Moyes

The NHL has filed a lawsuit against former Coyotes Owner Jerry Moyes, accusing him of "backtracking" on a deal he made with the league in '06, according to Carrie Watters of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The NHL contends that when Moyes and his family became majority owners of the team, he "agreed not to move the team for at least seven years, nor act without the league's consent to sell the franchise to a buyer who would relocate the team." The suit indicated that Moyes "also agreed to cover the team's expenses and not file the team into bankruptcy." The NHL "accused Moyes of backtracking on the deal, refusing in fall 2008 to fund the team's operations." The league is seeking at least $61.6M, including $10M it "spent in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, $20[M] the league expects to lose this season as owners of the Coyotes and $11.6[M] owed to creditors, among other damages." Moyes' spokesperson Steve Roman said that Moyes has "already lost more than $300[M] during his eight-year involvement as an owner of the Coyotes." Roman: "Now they want to come after you for another $60-plus million?" Moyes is considering a countersuit. Watters notes the suit "could seek $8[M] that may be owed" to former Coyotes Managing General Partner Wayne Gretzky (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/9).