NHL Free Agency 2012: How Phoenix Coyotes' Uncertainty Is Impacting Shane Doan

Zach Parise?  Signed.  Ryan Suter?  Signed.  Martin Brodeur?  Re-signed.  Shane Doan?

We’re still waiting.

The 35-year-old continues to tease teams with his availability on the free agent market, despite nearly two weeks passing since free agents were first able to sign.

So what’s the hold up in the decision-making process?

According to Stu Hackel on nhl-red-light.si.com, Greg Jamison and his attempt to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes has played a role in Doan’s free-agency decisions, especially when it comes to re-signing with the team.

As Hackel writes, an attempt has been made to challenge the lease agreement between Jamison and the city of Glendale, Arizona, so as to prevent Jamison’s ownership group from receiving millions of dollars to use Jobing.com Arena.

Hackel goes on to write that if Jamison purchases the team, Doan will re-sign with the Coyotes.  If not, Doan is likely to head elsewhere as a free agent.

Doan has spent every season with the franchise since being drafted in the first round of the 1995 draft.  In 1,198 career games, the right winger has racked up 318 goals and 470 assists.  Doan’s 22 goals and 28 assists last season ranked in the Top Five on the Coyotes’ roster.  Last year was also the 11th consecutive season in which he has recorded at least 28 assists.

Which is why this tweet by John Gambadoro, in which he says that Doan has confirmed offers from six teams, could be unsettling for the Coyotes as their captain remains on the free agent market.

Sarah McLellan recently wrote on azcentral.com that Terry Bross, Doan’s agent, does not see the free agent signing a one-year deal with the Coyotes.

McLellan’s article provides a quote from Bross, in which he talks about Doan’s potential decision in free agency.

"

“If we weren’t dealing with what we’re dealing with, I don’t think there’d be any interest on his part in any of this,” Bross said.  “Unfortunately, if this thing goes south and it’s not going to happen, I think that there are a few teams that for Shane are, for the lack of a better word, the lesser of two evils.”

"

Since losing in the Western Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, the Coyotes, and their fans, have had to deal with uncertainty surrounding their captain and the future of the team in Glendale.

The two are seemingly intertwined, which means the possibility exists that Doan returns to a Coyotes team that will remain in Glendale and compete to return to the Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, the longer the uncertainty exists around the team, the more Doan will be tempted to look elsewhere as a free agent.

Doan has led or tied for the team lead in goals during the past two offseasons.  He leads the franchise in all-time games played and is third all-time in goals scored and assists.  His 2008-2009 season provided goal and assist totals that rank as one of the 10 best single season totals in franchise history.

But in order to add to the record book, the Coyotes must first provide more certainty to one of their franchise’s best players.