* Research in Motion co-CEO offers to buy Phoenix Coyotes

* Offer conditional on team's relocation to Canada

* NHL suspends Coyotes owner's authority (Refile to add New York dateline) (Adds statement from NHL)

By Alexei Oreskovic and Phil Wahba

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, May 5 (Reuters) - Jim Balsillie, the co-chief executive of Canadian smartphone maker Research in Motion (RIM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), is trying to import a professional hockey team to Canada for the third time in move that looks likely to put him on a collision course with the National Hockey League.

Balsillie made a $212.5 million offer to buy the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday, following the team's unexpected bankruptcy filing, which was announced by the team's owner.

The offer is conditional on the team relocating to Southern Ontario, according to a statement by Balsillie.

But the NHL appeared to be taken by surprise by the Coyotes filing, and has moved to block its owner from acting on behalf of the team.

"We have just become aware of today's Bankruptcy Court filing purportedly made on behalf of the Phoenix Coyotes. We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the petition, including the propriety of its filing," said National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly in a statement posted on the league's web site.