Coyotes do not offer contract to free agent Shane Doan
Jun 19, 2017, 12:28 PM | Updated: 5:03 pm
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. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Shane Doan’s remarkable tenure with the Arizona Coyotes franchise has come to an end, as it is being reported by John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station that the team will not offer the 40-year-old free agent a new contract.
Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan reports that the team did, however, offer Doan a front office position.
Shane Doan has been offered a front office job with the Coyotes. Given how raw this all is right now, I assume he'll mull that offer a bit.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 19, 2017
The Coyotes provided a statement from team owner, chairman and governor Andrew Barroway regarding the decision to move forward without Doan on the ice:
“After serious consideration, we have decided to not offer Shane Doan a contract for the upcoming season. The time has come for us to move on and to focus on our young, talented group of players and our very bright future. This was a very difficult decision given what Shane has done for the Coyotes and his unparalleled importance to the organization. With that said, this is necessary to move us forward as a franchise.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to sincerely thank Shane for everything he’s done for the Coyotes on and off the ice the past 21 years. Shane is a Valley icon who had an incredible career and was one of the best captains to ever play in the NHL.
“Shane deserves an enormous amount of credit for keeping the Coyotes in the Valley and for growing the game of hockey in Arizona. He is beloved by our fans, corporate partners and the media and has been a tremendous leader for us in the community, and a great role model for kids. We wish him and his family all the best in the future. He will be a member of our Pack forever.”
A long-time captain who moved with the franchise from Winnipeg to Phoenix, Doan is the team’s all-time leader in games played (1,540), shots (3,945), goals (402), assists (570), points (972), power-play goals (128) and game-winning goals (69).
Back in February, Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan provided 19 memorable moments in Doan’s career.
It is unsure whether or not Doan planned on playing this next season, though a recent report from Morgan said was looking to continue his career. His status for a 22nd season with the Coyotes was in doubt, however, as last season he posted just six goals and 21 assists, with his 27 points being the lowest total he has notched in a full season since 1998-99.
Shane Doan said he was told Sat. morning he is no longer part of the organization's roster plans. They're going in a different direction.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 19, 2017
Doan said he was told Oliver Ekman-Larson will be the Coyotes captain and the team thanked him for his services and time.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 19, 2017
Shane Doan's agent, Terry Bross, called the Coyotes' decision to part ways with their captain a "very sad day for Arizona hockey."
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 19, 2017
Shane Doan's agent Terry Bross: "Shane is ready to enter the free-agent market & see where it goes. Time for him to get a shot at the Cup."
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) June 19, 2017
Doan originally joined the organization as a first-round pick, No. 7 overall, in the 1995 NHL Draft.
“It’s amazing how quickly you go from thinking you have lots of time to realizing you have no time,” Doan said near the end of this season. “This whole year, you wish you had a do-over on, but you don’t get them so you want to make sure you finish them off the right way.”
As he pondered retirement, former and current teammates expressed their hope he’d return for one more year.
“What I think about most often is we haven’t really given him a good shot to compete for a Stanley Cup,” goalie Mike Smith said. “It makes me sick to my stomach a little bit to know a guy that has been in the league that long, that’s accomplished everything personally that he has, has only really had that one real taste of getting close to a Cup. It was a special year (2012) — one I will remember for a long, long time and I’m sure he will too — but I feel like he deserves more.”
Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan contributed to this report
