Shane Doan retires after 21-year career with Coyotes

Shane Doan called it a career on Wednesday and announced his retirement, reports 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.

Doan spent 21 seasons in the NHL, all of which were spent with the Arizona Coyotes franchise.

The decision was reached despite Edmonton, Calgary, Nashville, Dallas and the New York Rangers showing interest in Doan as a free agent.

One team had even offered him a contract, but Doan told Gambadoro that he didn’t want to move his family and risk becoming a fourth-line player in an unfamiliar place.

Doan said he was at peace with his decision.

The long-time captain placed a “thank you” letter published in The Arizona Republic.

Doan closes the book on his career as 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).

The long-time Coyotes captain will speak about his decision at 3 p.m. Wednesday when he joins 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for the Burns and Gambo show.

The decision comes months after he appeared to be leaning toward returning for another go-around.

As Doan considered playing in 2017-18, the Coyotes decided against offering him a new contract in mid-June, shocking their fans and but not necessarily Doan himself.

“I wasn’t necessarily shocked that they didn’t want me to play again,” Doan told Burns and Gambo days later on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “I understand the direction that they’re going.

“I don’t completely agree with a lot of the decisions that they’ve made, but at the same time it needs to be reaffirmed that I am a player and I think that was the biggest part of it.”

RELATED: 19 memorable moments in Shane Doan’s Coyotes career

Owner Anthony Barroway, who recently became majority owner, apologized for how he handled telling the face the of team a contract would not be negotiated for his return.

“Shane’s a bedrock of this community and a pillar of the Valley since we came here,” the owner said in a July press conference. “I think we made the right hockey decision with Shane, I’m confident we did, but in retrospect — I should have flown out and met with him myself and told him that.

“And for that, I’m sorry. I apologize to Shane and the fans. I definitely could have done that better.”

The Coyotes released a statement concerning Doan’s retirement Wednesday morning:

“On behalf of the entire Arizona Coyotes organization, our fans and our corporate partners, we would like to thank Shane for everything that he’s done for our franchise over the past 21 years. Shane had an incredible career on the ice and we are very proud of everything that he accomplished in a Coyotes uniform. He will be remembered as one of the greatest captains in NHL history. Off the ice, Shane was a great ambassador for growing the game of hockey in Arizona and his contributions to the community are immeasurable. Shane will be a Coyote for life. Thank you Captain!”

The team’s official Twitter account also put out the following:

You believed in us when no one else believed.
And for that, we’ll be forever grateful.

Simply put, thank you for being you, Shane Doan. pic.twitter.com/X1xrE28zDl

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) August 30, 2017

Editor’s Note: Shane Doan will speak about his decision at 3 p.m. Wednesday when he joins  98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for the Burns and Gambo show. That interview can also be heard online or the 98.7 FM app.

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