Could The Rangers Pursue Shane Doan At The Trade Deadline?
There has been quite a bit of buzz around Shane Doan the past week or so, for two reasons.
The first is the fact that he finally notched his first hat trick in his 16th season in the National Hockey League. The third goal came with 0.01 seconds left on the clock against the Islanders last weekend (sound familiar?).
But the other reason that there has been some noise around Doan are the rumors swirling around the veteran winger about where he could be playing his hockey in the next couple of months.
With the Coyotes visiting the Rangers in New York on Tuesday, a game which the Blueshirts won in a shootout, it was suggested that it might not be the last game Doan plays at Madison Square Garden this season.
Doan has 25 points in 43 games for Phoenix this season, and is a minus-9 for the season. The Coyotes currently sit on the outside of the playoff race in the Western Conference.
Rumors around Doan haven’t been as hot and heavy as, say, Jarome Iginla, but it has been suggested on multiple fronts that he could be a veteran that many teams could try to pick up at the deadline. He’s a free agent after this season, and does have a no-movement clause, and would likely accept a trade if it meant a chance at finally hoisting a Stanley Cup.
As far as the question of whether or not the Rangers should pursue Doan, the answer is a resounding yes. He’s a gritty veteran, who can play either wing and contribute in all phases of the game. For a young team like the Rangers, the importance of adding a veteran like that cannot be overstated.
Of course, in order for the Coyotes to consider trading the guy who has been the face of their franchise for over a decade, it would require a few things. If they’re out of contention by the time the deadline rolls around, they might consider it, but what the bigger factor could be for a Doan trade is whether or not it’s looking like the franchise will be on the move this summer.
Will Doan be available? That remains to be seen. Will the Rangers have interest? That’s also unclear, but I can guarantee New York will certainly look into a veteran guy who fits John Tortorella‘s system perfectly. It’s just a matter of the state of the team around the deadline and what it would take to get him.
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I don’t think that’s a good idea he’s old, we already have 4 players like him that are younger and better at d Cally,Dubi,Boyle,& Rup we need another legit natural goal scorer some one who can get 30-35 a year and is young