The Rangers will be in the hunt for top-six winger Shane Doan if the Coyotes' captain decides to leave Phoenix via free agency, several sources have told The New York Post.
"We haven't entered into negotiations with any other teams, but Shane wants to be forthright and honest with clubs that have contacted us, and so we've let these clubs know whether there is mutual interest," Terry Bross, Doan's agent, told The Post yesterday.
"I don't want to be specific about what teams those are, but there are no restrictions against negotiating with teams in the East ... or the one in Manhattan."
The Rangers have made their interest clear in Doan, the 6-2, 228-pound right wing who recorded 50 points (22-28) last year before adding nine (5-4) in 16 playoff matches for the Western finalists. Doan, a right-handed shot who could move to the off-wing, has scored 20 or more goals in 11 of his past 12 seasons and has a career 788 points (318-470) in 1,198 career matches.
Doan, whose time with the organization predates by a year the move from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996-97, will decide his future next week after the situation regarding a lease between Glendale, Ariz., and prospective ownership comes into clearer focus.
Signatures are due by Monday on a referendum that would refer the recently reached lease agreement between the city council and prospective owner to the November general election. Seven candidates for the Glendale city council, including two contenders for Mayor, recently endorsed the referendum.
"As we've stated previously, Shane's priority is to make a decision based on his loyalty to the club, but he wants to get a clearer idea regarding the franchise's long-term future in Phoenix," Bross said of Doan, who is coming off a five-year contract worth $4.75 million per.
"We're hoping that the referendum does not get enough signatures to push the lease onto the ballot in November."
If the lease agreement is cast into doubt, or if other issues arise that could compromise prospective owner Greg Jamison's ability to take over the franchise and keep it in the desert for the long-term, then Doan likely will hit the open market.
"Shane has made it clear he will begin talking to other clubs next week if the situation with Coyotes has not been resolved," Bross said. "That's what he's waiting for."
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