Shane Doan signs one-year contract with Coyotes

Forward Shane Doan signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. Financial terms of the contract were not released.

Doan, who will turn 40 on Oct. 10, led the Coyotes with 28 goals last season and had 47 points in 72 games.

Doan had thought about retiring after last season ended, but after having one of his best offensive seasons, he decided to play at least one more.

"I'm happy to sign for another year," Doan said. "I'm very excited about the players we added this summer and all of the talent we have on our roster. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season."

This season will be his 21st with the Coyotes franchise. Doan is the longest serving captain in the NHL; he was named captain prior to the 2003-04 season.

Doan will become the ninth player in NHL history to play at least 21 seasons with the same franchise. Seven of the other eight -- Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman, Stan Mikita, Ray Bourque, John Bucyk and George Armstrong -- are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The other, goalie Martin Brodeur, who played for the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, is not yet eligible.

Doan, selected in the first round (No. 7) of the 1995 NHL Draft when the franchise played as the Winnipeg Jets, has 945 points (396 goals, 549 assists) and 1,305 penalty minutes in 1,466 regular-season games, and 15 goals and 13 assists in 55 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He is the franchise leader in games played, goals and points.

"We are thrilled to have Shane back for another year," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. "No one has done more for this franchise than Shane. He's one of the best captains in the NHL and we are lucky to have him."

Chayka said recently he spoke with Doan and wasn't concerned about getting a new contract completed, despite the fact Doan entered free agency on July 1.

"I get asked often about the loyalty I feel towards this organization," Doan said. "I get asked why I've turned down other opportunities so that I can keep playing hockey in what some people characterize as not an ideal situation. I've already given plenty of examples of why I love it here, but on a basic level, my biggest reason for wantcing to stick around all these years is simple: The organization drafted me to win a Stanley Cup, and I still plah to deliver on my end of the bargain."

Chayka, 26, was named GM of the Coyotes in May. He is the youngest GM in NHL history, and Doan has repeatedly said he backed the hire and the direction the Coyotes are headed. Although they have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since making the conference final in 2011-12, Arizona had a 22-point improvement last season after finishing with the worst record in the Western Conference in 2014-15 (56 points).

NHL Release.