NHL approached by 3rd potential bidder for Coyotes

* Bidder wants to keep team in Arizona

* Bidder has studied Coyotes' finances

By Ben Klayman

CHICAGO, July 9 (Reuters) - The National Hockey League said it has been approached by another potential bidder for the Phoenix Coyotes who wants to keep the bankrupt team in Arizona.

The North American sports league revealed a possible third bid for the team, which is coached and partly owned by hockey's all-time leading scorer, Wayne Gretzky, but did not disclose any details. An NHL spokeswoman declined comment.

"The NHL has been approached by another potential bidder, who did not file a term sheet on June 26, interested in keeping the Coyotes in Glendale," the NHL said in documents filed in federal bankruptcy court in Arizona on Wednesday.

"The league has been informed that this bidder will submit an application for transfer of ownership, but does not know whether the prospective purchaser will submit a definitive bid by July 24," the league added.

Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes, a trucking magnate, put the team, which has never made a profit since moving from Canada in 1996, into bankruptcy in May. He said he intended to sell the club for $212.5 million to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who wants to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada.

The NHL opposes relocation of the team and has backed a bid of up to $148 million by Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls basketball team and Chicago White Sox baseball club and a part-time Arizona resident. Reinsdorf's attorneys have said he intends to keep the team in Arizona.