Shane Doan will not Retire this Offseason

Shane Doan, captain of the Arizona Coyotes, will return for another season after deciding against retiring this offseason.

After going back-and-forth on whether or not to retire, reports came out on Friday that Shane Doan will not retire this offseason and will return for another season with the Arizona Coyotes, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

"Doan said he had talked things over with his family and they were on board with the idea.The Coyotes were not confirming the news because Doan had not told them yet, but new GM John Chayka had lunch with Doan on Thursday and expected to have more discussions with Doan and his agent, Terry Bross, about a new contract."

Newly appointed general manager, John Chayka, was enthusiastic about the idea of Doan returning to the Coyotes next season, “I think the sense is pretty positive overall,” Chayka said of Doan at a Thursday press conference to announce Chayka’s hiring as the team’s GM. “We’d be excited to have him back. The impact he can have on our group, and the impact he has on the ice is exceptional. It’s got to be something that makes sense for him and makes sense for us.”

Technically speaking, Doan will become a free agent on July 1st, but he will more likely than not return to the Coyotes and finish his career in Arizona rather than sign elsewhere. Doan has been a member of the Coyotes franchise for all 20 years of his career. The first season was with the Winnipeg Jets before the Jets moved to Arizona and became the Coyotes.

This past season, Doan, 39, led the Coyotes in goals (28). It was his second highest total for goals scored in a season since he netted 31 in the 2008-2009 season.

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Doan currently is the franchise leader in games played (1,466), goals (396), and points (945). He sits just four assists behind Thomas Steen for the franchise record (553).