Doan on retirement possibility: ‘It’s one of those things that I wish I knew’
Apr 5, 2017, 4:33 PM | Updated: Apr 6, 2017, 10:41 am
Arizona Coyotes' Shane Doan waves to a cheering crowd after Doan became the franchise leader in points with 930, during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. A scoring change on a second-period goal game Doan an assist and the record. He scored a goal late in the third period to reach 931 point. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 4-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
No one knows if the final two games of the season, at home against the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild, will be the last of Shane Doan’s career.
Not even Doan himself.
“After that, I’m going to sit down and figure it out,” Doan told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM about his plans when the season ends. “It’s one of those things that I wish I knew — it would be so much easier — I wish I do.
“I wish I had in my head, like, ‘oh no, this is what I’m going to do;’ trying to figure it out myself right now, it’s so frustrating.”
The 40-year-old, in his 20th NHL season (all with the Coyotes franchise), said someone who would really like to know what he intends on doing is his wife, who throughout this all has been supportive of whatever he wants to do.
Just, he doesn’t yet know what that is.
It would not be a shock if Doan continued his career, as though he is not the player he once was, he can still help a team. He also has yet to play in a Stanley Cup Final, and is wrapping up one of the worst statistical seasons of his career.
It would not necessarily be the way he would like to go out, but then again, he would not be the first athlete whose career ended with some unfinished business.
The Coyotes’ all-time leader in many categories including games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals and shots, Doan said when he knows, he’ll know.
At that point, Coyotes GM John Chayka will have to move forward.
A guest of Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday morning, Chayka said he’s not really a key stakeholder with regards to whether Doan will return to Arizona or not, noting it comes down to the player and his family.
Though it is Chayka’s job to construct the roster, he said he has no inkling one way or the other for what Doan may do. The possibility that this could be it for the captain in a Coyotes sweater, however, is real.
“Obviously he’s had an amazing career for the Coyotes and we’re certainly lucky to have him for as long as we have, but I think Shane’s going to take some time to talk to his family and see how that goes,” he said. “We’re happy to have him and just waiting to see what he has in store moving forward.
“What I can tell you is moving forward, for a long time, he’ll be involved with the Coyotes in a lot of different capacities, I’m sure, and we’re excited about that as well.”
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