Arizona Coyotes: Resurgent Shane Doan Leads Surprising Coyotes In Playoff Push

As Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan plays through a remarkably resurgent season for himself and his franchise, the questions about next year still linger.

The Arizona Coyotes are led by forward Shane Doan. He’s 39 years old and the last vestige of the original Winnipeg Jets that relocated to the desert.

He’s having a resurgent season in the goal-scoring department, and his franchise is a surprise in the standings.

Doan has 16 goals and 8 assists for 24 points, while the Coyotes themselves sit in third place in the Pacific Division. Both are outperforming anything but the wildest expectations of fans going into the season.

For fans, this success for both the team and the captain is an unexpected blessing in what was expected to be a season highlighted by a race for the number one overall pick.

Instead, there’s talk of playoffs in January. Through all the ups and downs, Doan has been the one consistent face in the franchise and this season has been no different.

The Coyotes named Doan captain ahead of the 2003-04 season.

“Sometimes it’s a no-brainer who you’re going to name Captain,” says Rick Bowness, who was an assistant coach with the Coyotes when Doan was given the captaincy in 2003. “That was certainly one of them.”

He is the longest serving captain in the NHL, and has been in his post longer than peers like Ryan Getzlaf, Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Shea Weber, and Steven Stamkos have even been in the league.

That’s a heady list of players, yet Shane Doan was leading his men before even one name on that list of future stars, MVPs, and captains had stepped foot on NHL ice.

He captained and roomed with a young Jonathan Toews at the 2007 IIHF World Championships in Moscow, even putting a young a Captain Serious in line after he was late to a team meeting due to the elevators failing.

“I think he learned a lot from Shane that tournament,” Team Canada coach Andy Murray said.

When you consider Shane Doan is the franchise leader in games played (1430) and goals scored (384), as well as third in assists (538) and second in points (922), it’s pretty safe to say the Halkirk, Alberta native has exemplified leadership and production on the ice.

Barring injury, he will almost assuredly break the franchise points record of 929 held by Dale Hawerchuk this season. Although his assist totals are way down it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he also will nab Thomas Steen‘s record of 553 assists. If he plays another season, it’s a no-brainer.

What has endeared him to the fans and franchise he plays for goes beyond goals and scoring records, however.

He won the 2011-2012 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award due to his work on and off the ice. In the press release, his numerous community contributions were noted such as working with “United Blood Services, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Flashes of Hope and Children First Academy – a kindergarten through eighth grade school for homeless children.”

“I haven’t made a decision to retire or to whether to continue playing, for that matter. They’re going to have to want me back. It has to work for both sides…When it comes down I’m hoping I’ll know.” — Shane Doan

He showed tremendous character during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, a work stoppage that saw no NHL games played for an entire season. Due to the lockout, the Arizona Coyotes “stopped paying health insurance for the team’s training staff. Doan stepped in, picked up the bill and never said a word to anyone.”

Talk of Doan possibly leaving the Coyotes occurred during his free agency in 2012, where he was offered a rumored four-year contract worth $30 million from the Buffalo Sabres (among others), but he ultimately took a hometown discount and stayed in the desert for four-years and $21.2M.

There’s the endless amount of patience and time he has for his fans and fans of the Arizona Coyotes.

Patience that he displayed last night, yet again.

Season ticket holders had to have a special wristband for Shane Doan’s line to accommodate the desire to meet the team’s captain.

As the line grew, Shane Doan seemed oblivious. While the other players were filing out hours later with their obligation complete, Doan stayed til the last hand was shook.

He doesn’t just sign autographs, he makes the encounter personal and calls fans by name.

My own children were so smitten with him that the oldest child, a five year old, changed his favorite Coyotes’ player allegiance from Max Domi to Shane Doan right there on the spot after Doan engaged him with elaborate handshakes, fist bumps, and conversation. He was beside himself with glee.