Coyotes’ Shane Doan praises play of center Antoine Vermette, hopes for re-signing

Mar 6, 2014, 1:05 AM | Updated: 1:06 am

LISTEN: Shane Doan, Coyotes captain

Arizona Sports

After recording the lone score in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes center Antoine Vermette is just five goals shy of his career high for a season.

The 31-year-old Canadian is having his best campaign as a Coyote: He leads the team with 22 goals, and he has 38 total points on the year.

All of that adds up to a strong case for making the team want to lock him up for the long term; his contract runs out at the end of the 2014-15 season.

The team’s captain, Shane Doan, joined the Burns & Gambo show Wednesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and praised the Coyotes center.

“He’s obviously a guy that we’re all excited about,” Doan said. “We wanted to get him re-signed and everything he can do as a player. Huge for us. I mean, he’s probably one of the best penalty killers in the league, and he’s probably the best face-off man.”

Vermette’s numbers have gotten consistently better since he joined the Coyotes. After he was traded to Phoenix midway through the 2011-12 season, he posted three goals and seven assists in 22 games for the Coyotes. The following year, he rang up 13 goals and eight assists in 48 games.

His most prolific season, points-wise, was 2009-10, when he put up 27 goals and 38 assists for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Vermette is due to make $3.75 million in 2014-15, the final season of his five-year contract.

Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler, far left, celebrates his goal against the Phoenix Coyotes with teammates Dan Hamhuis (2), Daniel Sedin (22), of Sweden, and Ryan Kesler during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Vancouver Canucks' Alex Burrows (14) watches teammate Ryan Kesler's shot go in for a goal as it gets past Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith, as Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden, and Zbynek Michalek (4), of the Czech Republic, defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) makes as save on a shot by Vancouver Canucks' Alex Burrows (14) as Coyotes' Rostislav Klesla (16), of the Czech Republic, defends, while Coyotes' Martin Hanzal (11), of the Czech Republic, and Canucks' Chris Higgins, top right, both look on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Rob Klinkhammer (36) tries to keep the puck away from Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Vancouver Canucks' Alex Burrows (14) looks on as Phoenix Coyotes' Radim Vrbata, of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal with teammates Keith Yandle (3), Derek Morris (53) and Shane Doan (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo makes a save on a shot by the Phoenix Coyotes during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' David Moss, left, and Mike Ribeiro (63) celebrate a goal by teammate Shane Doan, as Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo (1) kneels dejectedly on the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) makes a save on a shot by Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler during the third period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Canucks 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Smith (41) makes a save on a shot by Vancouver Canucks' Mike Santorelli (25) as Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson, of Sweden, defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Canucks 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Radim Vrbata (17), of the Czech Republic, checks Vancouver Canucks' Zack Kassian (9) into the boards as linesman Steve Miller (89) tries to get out of the way and Canucks' Dan Hamhuis (2) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Zbynek Michalek, of the Czech Republic, plays in his 600th career NHL hockey game during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Coyotes' Antoine Vermette, left, scores against Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo (1) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Canucks 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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