Shane Doan (Associated Press file)
Spotlight on… Shane Doan, right wing, Coyotes
When: Thursday, 8 p.m., at Arizona.
What’s up: The Avalanche, trying to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth, faces one of the two teams that long have been completely out of the running in the Western Conference.
Background: At the NHL trade deadline, the foundering Coyotes sent defenseman Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers and center Antoine Vermette to Chicago. That left the respected Doan, 38, amid the rumble. He has been with the franchise since the 1995-96 season, its final year in Winnipeg, and has been the Coyotes’ captain since 2003.
Frei’s take: In the spring of 1995, I went to Kamloops, British Columbia, with photographer Doug Devoe to do a story about major junior for The Sporting News’ pro hockey yearbook, using the Kamloops Blazers as the showcase example. The Blazers were about to win their second consecutive Memorial Cup championship. Among their star forwards and occasional linemates were Doan, Darcy Tucker and Jarome Iginla. Twenty years later, Tucker — who finished his career with Colorado — is retired, Doan is under contract through next season and the Avalanche’s Iginla is signed through 2016-17. If Iginla had stayed with the Flames, his and Doan’s situations — franchise stalwart, long-time captain, one team — would have been remarkably similar.
