Arizona Coyotes Approach Free Agency Without Shane Doan Re-signed

Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan is still not re-signed despite announcing his intention to return to the Yotes in 2016-17.

One free agency move that new Arizona Coyotes General Manager John Chayka and the Yotes have yet to make is the re-signing of franchise cornerstone Shane Doan.

The lack of movement on the contract has concerned some fans, and elicited a rather stern rebuke from Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.

Doan is coming off of a season in which he scored a team-high 28 goals at age 39. Though he did it by shooting 6% higher than his career average shooting percentage, the third line featuring Doan, Brad Richardson, and Jordan Martinook was the backbone of the Coyotes team in 2015-16.

He has indicated his desire to return, but Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported that Chayka and the Arizona Coyotes have asked Doaner to “take a big pay cut” and that the “two sides aren’t close” to an agreement.

So, what gives?

In May, President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc told the press that, “Our view is if Shane wants to come back, we’re thrilled. There’s no bigger figurehead in regard to the Arizona Coyotes than Shane Doan.”

It seems likely that the Yotes have indeed asked Doan to take less. It’s easy to see where both sides could differ on the numbers, as well.

New GM John Chayka is trying to eke out every ounce of value from a roster that, at least to this point, has been strapped with an internal cap. On the other hand, Shane Doan has taken less than market value from the Coyotes before.

To ask him to do it again on what is likely his final professional contract – and as a team that still will likely still not be pushing into the cap ceiling – probably feels like a slap in the face.

As Craig Morgan and many Arizona Coyotes fans have attested, Doan’s value goes well beyond the statistics he puts up on the ice. He is the figurehead of the team. Doan has no equal in terms of impact and loyalty to the franchise and city.

If this were Game of Thrones, every time #19 hit the ice fans would chant “King in the Desert!”

Perhaps Shane Doan remains unsigned because of Shane Doan. Maybe he wants to see Chayka and Tippett’s approach to free agency before the two sides reach a mutual compromise on his next contract.

It may also be that John Chayka is simply playing hardball and attempting to make that point that this is a new regime and a new era in Arizona hockey.

Whatever the issue, it must be resolved.

The Arizona Coyotes’ youth could sorely use the leadership of Shane Doan. That goes for Max Domi and Anthony Duclair, all the way down to potential new permanent arrivals in Glendale like Dylan Strome and Anthony DeAngelo.

Next: 2015-16 Player Grades: Shane Doan Had A Banner Year...

Beyond that, the old man still has some hockey left in him.

Let’s watch him skate another 82-plus and quibble over a couple million among many millions some other time.