After playing his entire NHL career with the Phoenix Coyotes franchise (including their final year as the original Winnipeg Jets), Shane Doan certainly knows the way to San Jose.
However, he won't be leaving the only NHL team he's ever known to join the Pacific Divison rival Sharks.
According to David Pollak, who covers the Sharks for the San Jose Mercury News, the Sharks are out of the race for the Phoenix Coyotes captain, who is exploring other options even as he continues to hope for a resolution in the sale of the Coyotes to former Sharks executive Greg Jamison. Doan is reportedly seeking a four-year contract, which was a deal-breaker for the Sharks.
Pollak posted Tuesday on his Twitter account, "Well-placed source advises that as soon as it was clear Doan deal would go beyond 3 years, #sjsharks bowed out of bidding."
The Sharks had previously been reported as an under-the-radar favorite for Doan's services, but the Sharks weren't on the contenders list reported by New York Post reporter Larry Brooks, who wrote Sunday that Doan is down to the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks. However, there may be another option for Doan.
Josh Cooper of the Tennesean reported Tuesday that Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz had spoken to Doan, and believes that the Predators are on Doan's short-list. Given the way Nashville's summer has gone, the Predators could be a real motivated buyer when it comes to Doan's services.
The Predators have had difficulties in attracting top free agents, or even keeping heir own. They lost Ryan Suter to the Minnesota Wild and had to pony up more than $150 million to keep Shea Weber by matching the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet. The Predators still have a strong team in Nashville, with Weber heading up the defensive corps in front of Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne in goal, but could certainly use a top-six forward like Doan to add to their mix. A team that has trouble getting the big free agents can often be enticed to go the extra mile - or in Nashville's case, the extra year - and with a team that should contend for the Central Division title even without Suter, the Predators could be a desirable destination for Doan.
A conversation between player and coach is stronger evidence than mere speculation and numbers-crunching, and if Trotz says that Doan is interested, it's worth paying attention. Whether it will be enough to keep up with the likes of the Rangers, Penguins and Canucks remains to be seen, but if Doan does leave Phoenix, Nashville is worth keeping an eye on.
