Coyotes close to re-signing Doan: report
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 | 6:09 PM ET
CBC Sports
It looks as though Shane Doan will remain with the Phoenix Coyotes.
The club is expected to officially announce Thursday that it has come to terms with their captain on a five-year contract extension worth between $22.5 million and $23 million US, the Canadian Press reported Wednesday.
Shane Doan leads the Coyotes with 19 goals in 48 games this season.
(Kyle Ericson/Associated Press)
Coyotes CEO Jeff Shumway, general manager Mike Barnett and Doan's agent, J.P. Barry, made significant progress during contract talks earlier this week.
The 30-year-old forward, who is earning $3.38 million this season, will become an unrestricted free agent July 1 unless he signs a new deal with Phoenix. The new deal is expected pay Doan between $4.5 million and $4.6 million a season.
"From the outset, both sides have always said that our first priority is to remain together," Barnett told CP on Wednesday.
"The negotiations have been respectful and most recently have been productive. Hopefully, we'll get there now."
A native of Halkirk, Alta., Doan leads the Coyotes with 19 goals in 48 games this season, while adding 16 assists. He has played his entire 11-year NHL career with the Winnipeg/Phoenix organization.
After the Coyotes traded forward Ladislav Nagy to the Dallas Stars on Monday, Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said the club would focus on extending Doan's contract
"That's a priority for this organization," Gretzky told the Arizona Republic.
