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UFA of the Day: Shane Doan

Calgary Flames v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 12: Shane Doan #19 of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Gila River Arena on February 12, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Flames 4-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Every day until June 30, we’ll write about a pending unrestricted free agent. Today’s UFA of the Day is…

Shane Doan

Most of us thought he would’ve re-signed by now. Because that’s what Shane Doan does -- no matter what, he stays loyal to the franchise that drafted him all the way back in 1995, when it was still in Winnipeg.

But he hasn’t re-signed yet, so what’s the deal?

“Negotiations continue,” GM John Chayka told Arizona Sports. “There are just a lot of balls in the air with our entire team; a lot of liquidity in our market. Once we get a little more clarity on where everything fits then it makes it a lot easier to get Shane in the right spot.”

Suffice to say, Doan used to be more of a priority for the Coyotes. It didn’t matter if there were “a lot of balls in the air.” (When are there not with this franchise?) He was their captain, and it was important for their credibility when he chose to re-sign in 2012.

Of course, a big difference now is that he’s 39 years old, turning 40 in October. He can still play; he had 28 goals last season. But he’s a lot closer to the end of his career.

Another big difference is the general manager. It’s no longer Don Maloney, who just last year said that Doan “will stay with us as long as he wants to stay with us.” Now it’s Chayka and Dave Tippett running the show. Perhaps they see the situation differently.

Doan has said in the past that he’s not really interested in pursuing a Stanley Cup anywhere but Arizona, but if it gets to Friday and he’s free to test the market, you have to wonder if he might.

Click here for all our 2016 UFA profiles.