Raiding Arizona

In continuing my series on players that would help the Edmonton Oilers from each NHL team, today we’re going to look at the Arizona Coyotes.

Now just to preface the article, I’m not picking the most obvious players from each team but rather players I feel would be more attainable for Edmonton. Honestly, it would be too easy just to pick the best player from each team and suggest the Oilers trade Taylor Hall for him. This way we look at some lesser looked at NHLers that could play a prominent role in contributing to Edmonton’s return to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As you guessed it, Shane Doan is the man I believe would be of immense help to this emerging core of young Oilers.

At 38 years old, Shane Doan is on his last legs as an NHL hockey player but I believe he still has what the Oilers need. Veteran leadership, toughness, power and intimidation. Not since the days of Mark Messier have the Oilers seen that kind of combination. Bill Guerin maybe but I don’t believe to the effect Messier had it. Doan, like Mess, can often get his message across with just a look.

Not since the 98/99 season has Doan’s numbers dipped so low. Back then he had 6g 15a and 22pts in 73 games. He did manage to put up 52 PIMs and register a paltry 156 shots on goal. This season, on probably the worst team of his career, he scored 14 goals and had 22 assists for 26 points. He nearly double his penalty minutes output from the previous season with 65 PIMs and even found a way to get the puck on net 189 times, his highest total in 3 seasons. One can only speculate what his numbers would look like alongside RNH, Hall or McDavid.

Shane Doan is a native of Halkirk, AB but has played his entire NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise. One has to wonder if he’d be willing to be move back to Alberta given that fact but every player’s goal is to win a Stanley Cup and he’d have a much better chance of doing that on the Oilers as opposed to the Coyotes. It’s not a guarantee as Mats Sundin’s switch didn’t really work out for him but Ray Bourque’s did. More recently, Jarome Iginla is still on the hunt.

I like Shane Doan for the Oilers because he’s not only a mean SOB but he’s an action-first type of player. He’s fearless and he’s very much the type of player that would allow the younger more skilled Oilers on his line the maneuverability to apply their natural creative talents. Simply put, he opens up space for them with his physicality. He’s been the captain of the Coyotes for 11 years and his knowledge and respect for the game would be invaluable to players like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, and Anton Lander.

I think the ask for Shane Doan would be along the lines of the ones that Pittsburgh made to get Gary Roberts and Bill Guerin. Roberts was acquired by the Pens for a former 2nd round pick and Guerin’s ask was a 3rd rounder. Both players were closer to 40 than 35 at the time of their trades and their impacts on the Penguins young roster were unquestionable.

Would you trade one of the many second or third round draft picks the Oilers possess in this year’s draft for 2 or 3 seasons of Shane Doan? I would.

Please let me know if you agree in the comments below and follow me on Twitter @beerleagueheroe