Shane Doan and the Arizona Coyotes never questioned that they wanted to be together for a 21st NHL season. Now, they've worked out the terms of the arrangement.
The Coyotes announced Tuesday that Doan had agreed to a one-year contract. Terms were not announced, but Craig Morgan of ArizonaSports.com reported that Doan's base salary will be $2.5 million, with deferred bonuses that could essentially double that amount. Doan's four-year, $21 million deal with the Coyotes expired July 1.
Doan, who turns 40 on Oct. 10, scored a team-high 28 goals during a record-setting 2015-16 season, his highest total since 2008-09 and tied for the second most in his career. He ended the season with the franchise records for goals (396), points (945), games (1,466) and power-play goals (125).
Doan has served as team captain since 2003 and has been the face of the franchise and has been a goodwill ambassador for the team and the sport of hockey in the community.
Doan said he fielded a couple of courtesy calls from other teams, "but I didn't want to anyone to waste their time.
"It's always been the goal to stay with them. They've been great to me , and obviously we've got unfinished business. It's like family now to me, and that's important."
General manager John Chayka recognized the importance, but not just from a community relations standpoint.
"This is an on-ice move," Chayka said. "Shane Doan had a great year. The way he impacts our team overall, the way he impacts our players, I think they're all better players because of Shane.
"He's our capatin, our leader, the guy who brings everything to the next level."
That said, Chayka still had to deal with the calculus of how to pay Doan what he was worth while at the same time moving the franchise forward.
"We're in the business of paying for future performance, that's the trick," he said. "Anyone can really say this players' done this and done that, and our vision and our goal is to try to extrapolate what that player will do in the future. That's for every player, not just Shane Doan.
"For us it is a belief that Shane helps our team, helps us win, he helps to make us a playoff team. He wants the same thing we do. He's as big a Coyotes fan as anyone out there. He cares so much about this orginzation. He wants what's best for our organization. In that sense our interests were aligned."
Doan agreed, saying he was honored to be able to remain with the only franchise he's ever played for.
"The Valley's been incredible, the fans have been phenomenal to me, it's become home," he said.
"This is our place. To be able to continue playing for the Coyotes, I didn't expect, I didn't dream of playing at 40, but I'm really happy to do it."
Doan said he has no expectation of topping his 28-goal season of a year ago, but he knows he has plenty left in the tank.
"You look at the situation I'm in, I'm well aware that it's going to get harder and harder, but I enjoy playing," he said. "The group of guys and their talent in the dressing room, it's exciting for me, and that makes it fun to come to the rink. I'm excited to see what they can do.
"I'm aware of the fact that in order for our team to get better, I am going to take a lesser role, but at the same time, I think there's lot of things I can do to provide value to our group, and hopefully I can be supportive and helpful to the guys who are going to pick everything up and take it on to the next level."
