{coyotes} REPORT: COYOTES CLOSER TO STAYING IN PHOENIX

While the Phoenix Coyotes continue their battle on the ice, the team's fight off the ice appears to be on a winning course.

ESPN.com and TSN Hockey Analyst Pierre LeBrun is reporting that the Coyotes could be nearing a sale, which would keep the team in Phoenix.

"Things are moving pretty quickly and a lot of work is being done," club president and COO Mike Nealy said in an interview Thursday with ESPN.com and QMI Agency of Canada. "I wouldn't be shocked if we saw something next week. I wouldn't be panicked if it didn't happen, but I'm looking for the near term."

The Coyotes have been without an owner since 2009 and have been run by the league since. If a deal can't be struck to sell the team locally, there is interest in Quebec City to relocate there.

But Nealy believes the odds are that the Coyotes will stay in the desert.

"I'm planning for next year, we're renewing tickets, we're making plans for next year and, so, I fully expect it," said Nealy. "I know it's not a guarantee, but I would say I'd put a high probability on it."

There have been rumours that a sale to San Jose Sharks executive Greg Jamison's group is all but done, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly stopped short of saying that.

"We are continuing to work with Greg Jamison and with the City of Glendale to move the process forward," Daly said via email on Thursday. "We remain hopeful that we can get a deal done, and we can move forward from there to close the transaction and transition ownership locally. Having said that, nothing is done yet and no timeline for completion has been established."

Nealy said the City of Glendale could discuss the situation as early next week.

"Next week is a possibility," said Nealy. "As far as the City of Glendale, they certainly are shooting to be able to do something early next week. They have a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday and they'd like to do that. Certainly the NHL wouldn't have anything against that. So if those three pieces can come together and that's all in the mix, it could happen."

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