Doan signs to run with the pack for another four years - Glendale Star

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The 2 ½-month saga of where Phoenix Coyotes captain would land for the 2012-2013 season came to an end Sept. 14 as he settled on the Coyotes for another four seasons at $21.2 million with a $2 million signing bonus.

Doan, 35, has been a member of the Winnipeg/Phoenix franchise 16 years, and has been the Coyotes captain since the 2003-04 season. Last season he finished with 22 goals and 28 assists, and the Coyotes won the Pacific Division and reached the Western Conference finals.

While the Phoenix organization is happy to have Doan for another four seasons, the reality is the NHL̢۪s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) deadline expired Sept. 15, which means a suspension in play until NHL owner and the NHLPA come to agreement.

Under the current CBA agreement, players get 57 percent of the overall gross revenues; the NHL 43 percent. Under the latest deal as of Sept. 10, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman̢۪s proposal to players is to help out the league̢۪s bottom feeders by limiting salary increases to players in the future. Teams rushed to sign free agents and their players as late as Friday and early Saturday morning to the tune of more than $100 million worth of contract extensions. Owners wanted to lock up their free agents in case the NHL and NHLPA come to an agreement and play in October or November, which means they would already have their teams in place for the season. Training camp opens Sept. 21 and the regular season is set to open Oct. 11.

“We are thrilled to sign Shane to a long-term contract,” Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. “Shane is our captain and the heart and soul of our franchise. He is the consummate professional and one of the best leaders in the NHL.

“His loyalty, commitment, integrity and passion for the game epitomize everything you’d want in a player. It was a priority for us to sign him to a long-term deal so that he can play for the Coyotes for the remainder of his career.”

Doan was happy to continue his career with the only franchise he has known.

“I’m extremely excited about remaining a Coyote,” Doan said. “I was drafted by this organization and it means a great deal to play with the same franchise my entire career. I’m very excited about our team, our coaching staff and our management, and am confident about our future in Arizona.

“Last year’s playoff run was incredible, and was one of the main reasons why I decided to stay with the Coyotes. I am committed to winning here, not anywhere else, and I love living and playing in the Valley. This is my home and this is my team.”

Doan, who has played 1,198 games with the Winniped/Phoenix franchise, is third in franchise history with 318 goals and 470 assists. He also is first with 59 game-winning goals and third with 98 power-play goals.

It was reported Doan was courted by 18 teams, with it being reported the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks showed the most interest.

In the 2010-11 postseason, Doan scored five goals with four assists in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Doan was a recipient of the 2012 Mark Messier Leadership Award in June at the NHL awards ceremony in Las Vegas. The award is given annually to the person who is a superior leader in hockey and a contributing member of society. Doan also received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2009-10, and was a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2009-10. The captain has been named as the Coyotes team MVP four times, and has won the Jukka Nieminen Memorial Trophy as the Coyotes hardest working player in five different seasons.

Doan is a two-time NHL All-Star, was on Team Canada for the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy, and played in the 2004 World Cup, in which Canada won on his game-winning goal in the final game of tournament play. Doan also was on Team Canada̢۪s gold-medal winning team at the 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.