Few players around the league garner as much respect as Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan. He’s an all around good guy that brings dressing rooms together and the type of player you want providing an example for younger players.

Some guys talk the talk, Doan follows through.

He can also still play which is why Doan will be a commodity come trade deadline time should the Coyotes fall out of the race. He’s in the final year of his contract that pays him just over $4.5 million per season.

Most close to Doan say he would never leave the Coyotes organization. He’s spent his entire career with the franchise and has never shown any desire to walk away.

I’m told he also hasn’t expressed any desire to move to Quebec City next season, which is where the Coyotes are likely headed unless someone steps up and saves the team. The NHL currently owns and operates the organization and sources continue to indicate those days are coming to an end.

Would Doan accept a trade should we get to that point over the next few weeks? He’s a player who wouldn’t disrupt a tight dressing room and would fit in with any club in the league.

 It’s almost amazing Phoenix has remained as competitive as they have considering their roster limitations. Shane Doan has a lot to do with this.

He’s personally bought in to what Head Coach Dave Tippett has preached and when Doan buys in the rest of the roster has no choice but to follow. You can make the case he’s the most important player that organization has ever had.

For now the Coyotes continue to basically flounder in the desert. I’m told there’s been very little league presence at their games and there appears to be no real serious effort to keep the team in Arizona.

It wouldn’t surprise me if this team pulls it together and makes a run towards the playoffs but if they fall back look for GM Don Maloney to field calls inquiring about his Captain.
He along with leading scorer Ray Whitney, also in the final year of his contract, will generate plenty of interest. Whitney is a guy who can certainly help a power play but finding available even strength ice may be a bit of a challenge. Regardless there are plenty of teams who would take this guy. I’m told he’s available and will be moved if Phoenix is out of the picture.

Eyes on Visnovsky….

Anaheim D-man Lubomir Visnovsky may be having a down year by his standards but he can still play at a high level. He’s always been a big point producer who can skate, run a power play, and move the puck.

He could also be had for the right price. Visnovsky comes with a $5.6 million cap number but he’s owed just $3 million in salary next season. That’s pretty good value for a guy who had almost 70 points last year.

I always look for players who have a connection to the Blues and the left shot Visnovsky played for pro scout Dave Taylor while he was managing the Los Angeles Kings. How Visnovsky fits in with St. Louis is a good question.

Can you have Visnovsky and Kris Russell playing in your top six?

Not to mention Visnovsky likes to play on his off side.  It seems Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, and Polak have the right side taken care of.

Goaltending Merry Go Round…

It shouldn’t come as any real surprise that the San Jose Sharks elected to waive Antero Nittymaki. It’s always odd to see a team assign a veteran goalie on a conditioning assignment not once but twice. For now Thomas Greiss seems to have secured the backup job to Antti Niemi.

Blues prospect Ben Bishop continues to draw some interest from a variety on NHL clubs. San Jose could be a destination as well as Edmonton assuming they move Nikolai Khabibulin as expected.

Bishop has performed well against San Jose and Edmonton in the past.

Obviously teams like Tampa Bay and Columbus could certainly target a goaltender like Bishop.  Whoever trades for Bishop will likely need to sign him to a one-way deal before July first to keep him. Hey if Mark Dekanich can fetch a one-way then Bishop should have no problem.

I keep hearing how the Brian Elliott contract spells bad news for Bishop. To me I think it’s great news for the young goaltender, he may have to leave the Blues organization but his goal is to play in the NHL. I don’t think he’s too picky as to which organization he plays for. Again, how many goalies reach the NHL with the same club that drafted them?

 Wolski to be moved?

Wojtek Wolklsi a player the Rangers would likely part with. He’s spent much of the season recovering from a sports hernia and has seen limited action since being cleared to play. Wolski comes with a $3.8 million cap number but is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. The former first round pick of the Colorado Avalanche has zero goals and three assists in nine games this year.  He’s being paid a whopping $4 million this season.

More to come,
Andy Strickland
strickland.andy@gmail.com