Coyotes notes: Maloney expects Doan back for 21st season
Coyotes general manager Don Maloney, in an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, said he expects captain Shane Doan to return to the team for a 21st season.
Doan, 39, is in the final year of his current contract and leads the team with 27 goals -- four short of his career high. He established all-time franchise records this season for goals scored (now at 395) and points (944), and his 549 assists are four short of the franchise record. His 1,464 games played ranks sixth all-time for most games played with a single franchise.
"He's in our plans for as long as he wants to continue to play," Maloney said on Wednesday. "We certainly expect him next year. We've talked to Shane a number of times (and) we'll sit down early in the off-season and get a deal done for next year."
--Head coach Dave Tippett told ArizonaCoyotes.com that he's been impressed with the development of defenseman Connor Murphy and says he benefited from playing alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
"He's really coming into his own," Tippett said. "Playing with Oliver, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that, and he's handled it very well."
Murphy is in his third season. He has six goals, 11 assists and a team-high 173 hits.
--The Coyotes announced the signing of goaltender Adim Hill to a three-year entry level contract.
Hill, 19, was the team's third-round draft pick in2015 and spent the season with Portland in the WHL, compiling a 32-27-5 record, .917 save percentage and 2.96 goals-against average.
