Shane Doan on re-signing with Coyotes: ‘It’s been the goal to always stay with them’
Jul 12, 2016, 4:39 PM | Updated: Jul 13, 2016, 11:41 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. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
It was early in the 2015-16 season against the New York Islanders when Coyotes captain Shane Doan thought to himself, ‘Oh, boy.’ Doan wasn’t playing much, he wasn’t playing well and he was wondering if his 20-year NHL season was coming to a close.
Shortly after a heart-to-heart conversation with coach Dave Tippett, Doan caught fire and started scoring what would be a team-high 28 goals.
“I just got rolling,” he said on a conference call Tuesday.
It was then that he had his first inkling that 2015-16 season might not be his final one. The decision to return was cemented in mid-May after several conversations with his family, and the Coyotes made sure it would happen on Monday, agreeing with Doan on a one-year deal with a base salary of $2.5 million that includes a deferred signing bonus and deferred incentives that could bring it around $5 million.
Coyotes general manager John Chayka brushed off suggestions of a protracted and acrimonious negotiation, reiterating that there was never any rush, and that the intention was always to bring Doan back.
“Shane has been such a big part of this organization for a long time. He’s our captain, our leader and a guy that just brings everything to the next level,” Chayka said. “I know there was some angst about whether it would get done or not. That was not the case, at least from our end. This was an on-ice move. Shane Doan had a great year. The way he impacts our team overall, I think they’re all better players because of Shane.”
The deal, which was announced on Tuesday afternoon, means Doan will play his 21st NHL season with the same franchise with which he started — a rarity in the salary-driven, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of professional sports.
“I am very honored about the opportunity to do that and I didn’t take it lightly,” Doan said of returning to the Coyotes. “Each time that it came to this situation (in the past) it’s been the goal to always stay with them. They’ve been great to me. It’s like family now to me and that’s important.
“I do believe there are players that would do the same thing if given the opportunity. The stability of them keeping me around is really what’s given me the chance.”
Doan said he understands the Coyotes must weight his importance to the organization and community against their hopes and salary needs of the future. He credited Tippett with being honest about Doan’s evolving role and also balancing Doan’s desire to play and current abilities with the needs of the team.
“I’m aware that in order for our team to be successful I’m going to take a lesser and lesser role,” Doan said. “There are going to be young guys that are going to take bigger and bigger roles … which has already started to happen.”
Doan has not decided whether this will be his last season. He said he would reevaluate as next season progresses. In the meantime, he hopes to continue as an ambassador for the organization, and as a role model for the younger players on the team.
“I know I can contribute to our team and help our team offensively and in a lot of areas,” he said. “The Valley has been incredible to me and it’s become home. To be able to continue to play for the Coyotes is something I didn’t expect and didn’t dream of at 40.”
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