Heretofore, Friday July 27 will be known as "D Day"
Doan Day.
Doan's agent, Terry Bross, has revealed his master plan to Sarah McClellan of the Arizona Republic. Doan will be speaking directly on the phone with prospective Coyotes buyer, Mr. Greg Jamison. Doan is hoping to hear something "some type of news" from the Jamison consortium. Doan's heart is in Phoenix. He'd love to stay and raise his family there. However, if Friday's news from the Jamison group is negative, or if the staus quo continues, then Doan will begin negotiating with other NHL teams.
"We're expecting some type of announcement or debriefing (Friday) regarding the ownership group, and hopefully we get good news and (General Manager) Don (Maloney) and I can start putting pencil to paper," said Doan's agent, Terry Bross. "If we don't, I think we're going to start to negotiate with some of the other clubs."
In his sweaty mitt, Doan has his shopping list of teams that he'd like to negotiate with.
This is the day that the hockey world has been waiting PATIENTLY for 3+ weeks. Its finally Doan's Decision Day. Next week is August. Doan has four children and a wife. School starts in five weeks. The 35 year old UFA-in hot demand wants the answer to the zillion dollar question:
Will the Jamison Group be buying the Phoenix Coyotes?
Doan's agent must be exhausted from having to fight off all of the NHL executives and media at large who are deluging him with the same "will he or won't he" stay in Phoenix question. For three straight weeks, Bross has been like a lion tamer, fighting off the advances of motivated, anxious, impatient NHL GMs with a whip and a chair.
"I say there are three or four that he's very serious about," Bross said. "There's probably two more that he has a lot of interest in."
I'm told that Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philly, Vancouver, Montreal, Nashville, and Los Angeles are on the short list of teams. TSN reported on Thursday night that it appears that the Detroit Red Wings are pulling out of the Doan sweepstakes due to the inflated contract demands. By inflated, we're talking $7.5 million per year for a minimum of four years.
Doan wants to stay and play with the Coyotes. He's a loyal guy. However, he and his agent are realists and they know that Doan has real value and is wanted by otehr teams around the NHL. They've been in a perpetual holding pattern for a month. Once and for all, its time for Doan to make his final decision. Phoenix will get their shot on Friday. If the news from jamison is not good, then Doan skates.
"It's time to fish or cut bait," Bross said. "All the obstacles are out of the way, so I can't hold these teams off forever. They have franchises to run, and they need to make moves for their clubs as well. I don't think it's fair to Shane or the other clubs that might be interested to continue to drag this out."
McLellan says that Doan will be resuming his "Summer Of Love Tour".
Doan has already met with the Rangers and Flyers. He's said to be ready to visit Pittsburgh and Montreal. Sabres fans are hoping and praying that Doan will wing on over to Hockey Heaven for a sit down meeting with Darcy Regier and the Pegulas.
Bross says the runway for a decision is a short one:
"I wouldn't be shocked if we had a decision next week," Bross said
"Visits could resume after Friday, depending on what Doan hears" from Jamison.
If I had to handicap the race, I'd say that Philly and the Rangers have the early pole position in the Doan Derby. Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Montreal fill out the top five.
You have to think that Paul Holmgren and the Flyers will back up two Brinks trucks to Doan's door. Parise, Suter, and Weber have said no thanks to Holmgren and $310 million in contracts. Rick Nash skated to Manhattan. Philly appear to be poised to pounce on Doan once the horn is sounded after the Doan-Jamison call.
The Rangers still have cap space, even after they just signed Rick Nash.
Pittsburgh have Sid, Geno, Neal, and Flower to use as recruiters for Doan.
Montreal have Doan's cousin, Carey Price, to use as a lure to land Doan.
Vancouver are a Western team, which is loaded with offesnsive firepower. Signing there would keep Doan close to his Kamloops roots.
I feel like the only way the Sabres have a snowball's chance in Hell of signing Doan is whether or not they can convince him to board Mr. Pegula's G6 for a face to face visit in Buffalo.
Doan is a blood and guts, heart and soul guy. Thats why he's in hot demand. He's sure look great in Blue and Gold.
I see it as a long shot that he ends up in Buffalo. Never say never.
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