The NHL made perhaps its boldest move since assuming ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes in the summer of 2009, firing President Doug Moss and promoting team executive Mike Nealy to chief operating officer.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly was in Glendale on Wednesday to deliver the news to Moss, who had time remaining on his contract; those terms will be honored, Daly said.

"Doug did a lot of good things for the Coyotes' franchise during his tenure with the club, and I know he will do well in the future," Daly said. "We just thought it was time to instill new leadership and some fresh ideas on the business side of the operation, and we believe that Mike Nealy is the right person to do that."

The team has not turned a profit since moving to the Valley from Winnipeg in 1996.

As financial problems mounted in the past two years, former team owner Jerry Moyes replaced then-President Jeff Shumway with Moss. Months later, Moyes put the Coyotes into bankruptcy.

Moss continued at the Coyotes' helm, uncertain of the future through the court hearings and as the NHL bought the team out of bankruptcy last fall. The league intends to sell the team to a buyer who would keep it in Glendale. Negotiations with potential buyers have seen a roller coaster of deals approved and rejected over the past year.

Moss struck an optimistic tone in recent weeks about the Coyotes' future. Five hundred new fans bought season tickets in the first three days of sales that began this month, almost as many as all the sales of last season, 626. One reason: average ticket prices were lowered by $2.

Moss also held his first online chat with fans called "Ask the Boss" on Tuesday, along with General Manager Don Maloney.

If Moss was aware of his impending departure, he didn't show it.

"Interest in the team is at its highest point in many years, and corporate partners who couldn't do business with us because of the circumstances are very enthusiastic about supporting the team for this season," Moss wrote. "Having said that, there is a lot of work to do and it will be a very busy summer."

Nealy joined the Coyotes in 2006 as executive vice president and chief financial officer after four years with the Minnesota Wild as vice president of finance and chief controller. Prior to that, he worked in private and public companies, holding management and financial leadership positions.

"While I fully respect everything Doug has done, I'm not Doug, either," Nealy said. "The NHL has entrusted me to have a fresh look at some things and carry it forward."

Moss, former president of the Buffalo Sabres, also held a senior management position with the Anaheim Ducks and served as president of the Madison Square Garden Network. He joined the Coyotes in 2002 after serving three seasons as president of the International Hockey League. He was unavailable for comment.

Daly said the timing of the firing, a day before the opening of free agency, was a coincidence, dictated to some extent by his schedule. He also doused speculation that the dismissal was designed to increase the budget for Maloney.

"No, not at all," he said. "While we approve and look at the budget as a whole, there's a budget on the business side and a budget on the hockey-operations side, so the change had absolutely nothing to do with the budget."

Daly said progress continues to be made with Ice Edge Holdings, the leading candidate to become the new owners. He said he talked to Glendale City Manager Ed Beasley and Ice Edge's Anthony LeBlanc and expects an update in the near future.

"I would think in the next week we'll get together and see where things stand," he said. Glendale begins covering team operating losses today, up to $25 million, until a new owner is in place. The city pledged the money as a requirement of the NHL to keep the Coyotes in the Valley for the 2010-11 season.

Robert Johnson, a spokesman for Ice Edge, said the group expected to own the team "in the very near future."

"Decisions about personnel, budgeting or the draft are being made at the National Hockey League level," he said. "They have the right to do that until they sell the team."

More on Mike Nealy



A quick look at the new Coyotes president.

Wife, Brenda; daughter, Regan, 9; and son, Simon, 5.

Resides in Phoenix.

Previous position was executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Coyotes.

Joined the organization in 2006 after working as the vice president of finance and corporate controller for the Minnesota Wild.

Held management and financial leadership positions for nearly 13 years in public and private companies before getting involved with sports.

Minnesota native.

Graduate of the University of Minnesota.

Honorary Commander alumni at Luke Air Force Base.

Serves as treasurer and finance committee co-chair for the Board of Directors of the Arizona chapter of The Partnership for a Drug Free America.

Has completed 11 marathons.