After a career spanning decades, one of the most well-liked players in the NHL has called it quits. Shane Doan, in a special article for AZCentral, has officially announced his retirement from the NHL.
Drafted by the original Winnipeg Jets franchise in 1995, Doan has been a part of the Arizona Coyotes since their inception. As Winnipeg moved to the desert, they said goodbye to their old face of the franchise in Teemu Selanne, traded in the last year in Winnipeg, and welcomed in a group of new young players led by Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick and Doan.
It would still be a few years before Doan would make a big impact, but when he got to the top he never looked back. He would score 26 goals in his fifth season, and immediately start to take a leadership role on with the team. Even as they struggled to draw fans in the desert, Doan ascended to the captaincy in 2003, where he would remain until retirement. The Coyotes have not yet named a successor.
In 1,540 games with the Jets/Coyotes, Doan amassed 972 points including 402 goals, and took them to the playoffs on nine occasions. He was never the most skilled offensive player in the league, but would rack up points by being one of the hardest workers on the ice night in and night out. That work ethic earned him a spot on the Canadian Olympic team in 2006, and several World Championship squads over the years.
Even throwing his solid career scoring numbers to the side, the simple fact is that without Doan the Coyotes franchise may well have been no more. While the team has had trouble drawing fans and support almost since moving from Winnipeg, Doan has remained as positive and loyal as ever, and inserted himself into the community. He and his wife raised four children in the Valley, and even won the Pat Tillman award together in 2007 for Community Leadership. The pair were well known in the area, and young players like Auston Matthews often credit Doan as the reason the game has grown so quickly there.
Though there would be a possibility of Doan joining the Canadian Olympic squad at the upcoming 2018 games, GM Sean Burke has been clear that he thinks all of his players will need to be actively playing somewhere in the world to be ready for the speed of the tournament. It doesn’t sound like Doan will be suiting up for a European team anytime soon, meaning he’ll have to be a spectator once again.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
One of the all time greats. Happy retirement Shane Doan!!!