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Shane Doan’s Role This Season With Arizona Coyotes

By William Grigsby

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Shane Doan Will Have Important Role With Arizona Coyotes This Season

One day after the new season starts on 10-9-15 versus the L.A. Kings, Captain Coyote will turn 39 years old. Most NHL players start to slow down by this age, and many retire. Could we see Shane Doan hang up his skates this season?

It depends… mostly on how well he can still play competitively. He has still averaged 0.63 points a game the last five seasons, while playing in an average 69.4 games over that time, which equates to about 40-45 points in a season. I would consider that contributing better than some other forwards like Lauri Korpikoski, who only averaged 0.21 points a game during his six years as a Coyote.

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Just like other veteran NHL players Jerome Iginla and Daniel Briere, Shane Doan must gauge his worth to the team, and whether or not he is still able to contribute.

For Doan, who is really known as a “power forward” because of his ability to crash the net, or screen the goalie, it all boils down to his physical abilities still holding up to the rigors of another NHL season.

The management has stated quite convincingly that it is completely his call. His leadership will be vital this upcoming season, due to the influx of young prospects like Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and Brendan Perlini possibly joining the lineup.

Right now, Oliver Ekmann-Larsson is the leading candidate to take over the captaincy of the team. He is being groomed for that role, and I believe will do a fine job. He, like Doan leads by example, and the younger players will see that.

OEL is only 24 himself, but will be playing his sixth season in the NHL. He has been on this team long enough to see how Doan leads the team, defends his teammates, and goes to the wall for the team, no matter what.

The other Doan factor which came up during the off-season was will he want to be traded to a Cup contending team? He told those who asked he would see how it went over the summer, but now has given every indication he will be here for his 20th season.

 He may never experience the excitement of raising the Cup like his teammate, and friend Antione Vermette, but to the Arizona Coyotes and their loyal fans, he will always be known as Captain Coyote.

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