The last name Doan holds great significance in Arizona hockey culture. Both Shane and Josh Doan created memorable moments in the desert. Josh's father, Shane Doan, played over 1,500 NHL games and recorded 972 points for the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise. He captained the Coyotes for 13 seasons and led Arizona to its final appearance in the Western Conference.
However, without a trade, Josh Doan may not have been the first Arizona born, raised, and trained player to join the Coyotes.
Derek Stepan
On June 23, 2017, the Coyotes acquired forward Derek Stepan and goaltender Anti Raanta from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Tony Deangelo and the seventh pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft – Lias Andersson was that pick, with 17 NHL points. With New York looking to save money and give small forwards Kevin Hayes, Pavel Buchnevich, and JT Miller more ice time, Stepan was the odd man out.
With four years remaining on his $6.5 million-a-year contract, Stepan became the Coyotes' starting center. In his first season in Arizona, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound center came one point shy of tying his career high in points, with 56. In the 2017-18 season, the Coyotes lost their first 11 games (0-10-1) and finished with a 29-41-12 record, but Stepan still gained playmaking power and time on the penalty kill.
Over the next two seasons, Stepan failed to match that offensive production. In 2018-19, the native of Hastings, Minnesota recorded 35 points in 72 games. He then tallied seven fewer points the following season with 28 in 70 games, although, the Coyotes made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years – Arizona defeated the Nashville Predators in a best-of-five series (due to the COVID. pandemic) and lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the round first 4-1. Stepan has five points in nine games, the last in the desert.
Stepan to the Ottawa Senators
On December 26, 2020, the Ottawa Senators acquired Stepan in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick from the Coyotes. Arizona received the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2021 second-round pick in the deal. In previous trading on Feb. 23, 2019, Ottawa acquired Columbus' 2020 and 2021 second-round picks and Anthony Duclair. The Senators dealt Ryan Dzingel and a 2019 seventh-round pick to the Blue Jackets in the deal. So, the Blue Jackets' 2021 second-round pick was involved in two transactions to get to the Coyotes. Little did they know that this non-blockbuster move would bring home another Doan to the franchise.
Stepan had six points in 20 games for the Senators but missed the entire season after undergoing surgery to repair an injured shoulder. The Carolina Hurricanes were Stepan's home for the next two seasons before he retired on Oct. 3, 2023. In 890 career NHL games, Stepan recorded 515 points.
The upbringing of Josh Doan
Josh Doan played for Phoenix Jr. Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies. After two seasons with Jr. Coyotes in 2018–19 and 2019–20 when he scored more than a point per game, Doan played for the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League. In 2020-21, he scored 31 goals and 70 points in 53 games, his best season in Chicago – a 56-point difference from his first year with the Steel in 2019-2020.
The 6-foot-1, 183-pound forward has decided to stay in his home state to play college hockey. He recorded 37 points in 35 games his freshman year at Arizona State University, and head coach Greg Powers named him a team captain heading into his sophomore season. Power had this to say about Doan after his first NHL game:
“He had a big impact on our program. “So much so, as a sophomore, I felt comfortable naming him our captain just because of the type of person he is,” said Powers. “He's the type of person that when you're around him, you just get better.”
Related: Coyotes Prospect Josh Doan Brings Winning Mindset to Arizona State
In his final season as a Sun Devil, Doan scored the first goal at Mullett Arena against Colgate University. Thirty-eight points in 39 games marked almost another season per game as second.
2021 NHL Draft Draft
The Coyotes had eight picks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, including three second-round picks. After selecting forward Dylan Guenther ninth overall in the first round, Arizona had the 37th overall pick in the second round, which it used to select Josh Doan. At the time, Shane Doan was serving as the organization's chief hockey development officer. It was a time full of his father's circle and the team.
Where did the Coyotes take the 37th pick? In a trade that sent Stepan to the Senators for the Blue Jackets' 2021 second round pick.
After completing his sophomore season at ASU, Doan joined the Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate Tucson Roadrunners and tallied six points in 14 games to finish the 2022-23 season.
Doan's 2023-24 season
Beginning the 2023-24 season in Tucson, Doan showed great promise, scoring 26 goals and 46 points in 62 games. He was rewarded for his great campaign by being named an American Hockey League (AHL) All-Star for the Roadrunners and was called up to the NHL. On March 26, 2024, Doan made his NHL debut. Of course, it had to conflict with the team whose draft pick the Coyotes used to select Doan, the Blue Jackets.
Late in the second half, Doan broke up the game behind the net. The puck found its way through the air and bounced into the net. Mullett Arena erupted as he scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. However, the night is just beginning for the homeboy. Midway through the third, he deflected a Matias Maccelli shot to put Arizona up 3-2. The Coyotes defeated the Blue Jackets 6-2, and Doan had this to say about his special night:
“I think the whole night itself will be one I'll remember forever,” said Doan. “I was told to soak me in your first game because you only get one first game, and it's a game I'll never forget. It's going to be hard to beat this one.”
In 11 NHL games, Doan scored five goals and nine points.
From Stepan to Doan
Who would have thought that Stepan would become Doan? The stars aligned for the Coyotes as the Blue Jackets' 2021 second-round pick ended up being a top-five pick in that round. Once he was traded to the Coyotes, Stepan's career took off, and the Arizona native came along looking to follow in his father's footsteps. Young star forwards like Doan, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther will look to fuel the team's success in the future.
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