I'm not sure of the fourth period's media credentials, but a story today claims the Lightning will be cutting payroll to the $ 37 million range next season. http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/tbl070304.html
There was a story not too long ago claiming the Lightning could lose in the range of $ 9 million this season.
with 20,000 in attendance and conceivably losing almost $ 10 million, I think it's conceivable that the Coyotes could lose $ 25 million with attendance below 15,000. I guess without knowing the actual paid attendance it's impossible to know for sure, but presuming these reports are true, anything's possible.
The numbers don't really match up for the lightning either. Maybe Forbes isn't as reputable as we are led to believe? The Lightning according to Forbes made 5 million last year. How do you lose 14 more million dollars one year later with virtually the same team on the ice, for almost the same payroll. They also get two million a year from local government.