The Nashville Predators are trying to add Shane Doan to their Shea Weber-led roster.
After matching Weber’s 14-year, $110 million offer sheet set by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Predators have turned their attention to Doan, who is one of few attractive players left on the market.
He is an outstanding player and outstanding person,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said Wednesday. “He really would be a type of player we would want on our hockey club and we are exploring that like a lot of other teams.”
Doan has made it clear that he would like to stay with the Phoenix Coyotes, but he won’t unless he is convinced there will be stable ownership and that the team won’t be moved.
TVA Sports reported on Tuesday that Doan meet with the Montreal Canadiens organization next week.
Sixteen teams have reportedly expressed interest in the 35-year-old including the Flyers and the New York Rangers. Six of them, including the Vancouver Canucks, are said to have made formal offers.
“We’re still trying to decide which other visits he’s going to take,” said Doan’s agent Terry Bross. “We’re mulling that over right now.”
“If he is available, I know we will be high on his list because I know one of the things he’s looking for is a team with a chance to win,” Trotz said. “I’d check that off because he believes we are.
“We are not in a rebuilding mode. We are in a go-forward mode to win a Stanley Cup.”
Philly.com says Doan’s latest visit was with the Flyers on Saturday. Though both sides have mutual interest, the meeting was described as Doan “just checking his options.”
Doan met with the Rangers on Friday, according to Arizonasports.com, and the New York Daily News said it was Doan’s first official visit of free agency. Doan was in the Big Apple to attend an NHL-NHLPA labour meeting.
Drafted seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets (now the Phoenix Coyotes) in 1995, Doan has played for the franchise his entire career. In 17 NHL seasons, he has 318 goals and 470 assists in 1198 games played.