New York Rangers: Why Shane Doan Would Be a Perfect Fit

Shane Doan is one of the top free agents available and would be a perfect fit for the New York Rangers. 

According to Yahoo! Sports, the 35-year-old winger is expected to make his free-agent decision on July 9.

If the Phoenix ownership situation is settled by July 9, Doan is expected to stay in Phoenix. If not, then Doan is going to seek employment elsewhere. 

Doan will have many teams interested in him. One of those teams will be the New York Rangers.

The Rangers are reported to be interested in Doan, according to Steve Zipay of Newsday.com.

This makes sense because Doan would be an upgrade on offense and could be the missing piece to get the Rangers over the top in the Eastern Conference.

Read on to find out why Doan is perfect for the Blueshirts. 

Secondary Scoring

With Marian Gaborik out until at least December with a shoulder injury, the Rangers will need scoring depth.

Doan could provide that—he scored 22 goals and had 28 assists last season. 

Doan is not an elite scorer, but he's a perfect secondary scorer. 

Last season, the Rangers relied too heavily on Marian Gaborik for scoring. With Doan, the Rangers could spread out the scoring and be more effective. 

Power Play

The Rangers power play ranked 23rd in the NHL last season. Doan would help improve their 15.7 percent conversion rate.

Last season, Doan scored five goals and added nine assists on the power play. That would have placed him fourth on the team. The season before, Doan scored 11 power-play goals.

With Gaborik out for a few months, the Rangers will need more scoring on the man advantage. Doan can help provide that.

Penalty Kill

The Rangers lost top penalty killer Brandon Prust to Montreal and will need to replace him.

Doan can do that.

Doan is very responsible defensively and is excellent on the kill. He also has six career short-handed goals. 

The Rangers had the fifth-ranked penalty kill last season; Doan would only improve that. 

Grit

Doan is a gritty player who would add a layer of toughness to the Rangers.

The Rangers built an identity last season on hard work and tough play. Doan would fit right in.

Last season, Doan had 205 hits. He's willing to sacrifice his body. He also had 27 blocked shots and would fit well in the Rangers system that emphasizes blocks. 

Leadership

Doan has been captain of the Coyotes since 2003 and is one of the best leaders in hockey.

He was named the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award, which is given to the best leader in the league.

He also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2010, which is awarded to the person who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice.

The Rangers are a relatively young team. Doan would add experience and leadership. 

In the playoffs, leadership and experience are so important. If the Rangers want to take the next step, adding someone like Doan would be a smart move.