Pre-season is almost upon us (hopefully if the NHLPA and the league come to an agreement) but there are still some free agents out there that have yet to sign. Right now one of the questions being asked is where will Shane Doan sign this year?
Doan has played for the Phoenix Coyotes his whole career. He’s actually only played for one other team, the 1995 Jets, but they are technically the same since it was after his first season in Winnipeg that the Jets moved to Phoenix to become the Coyotes. The Jets were moved due to financial reasons, and despite making it to the playoffs this year, the Coyotes business model is not working and the current team might be facing the same problem. Like a lot of Western Conference teams with a small fan base, they are just not making enough money. So much to the point that last year they were bailed out by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
The financial woes aren’t behind the team after the bailout, it’s gotten almost worst which is why Doan has yet to make a deal with the team he’s been with his whole career. Doan has spoken to the media about where he wants to go, which is to stay in Phoenix but that does not mean he hasn’t been shopping around for another team as well. Doan has reportedly also met with The Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, The Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators.
With the Predators also a smaller hockey market and having shelled out $110 Million over the next 14 years to Shea Weber it’s more than likely that deal won’t happen. But the other three teams come from bigger hockey markets that may be about to shuffle a few players around to add a solid RW to their lineup.
Doan might in fact just wait it out for the ownership of the Coyotes to settle so he can sign with them yet again. Although CBS Sports is claiming that he has it down to three teams and the Coyotes aren’t among them.
