Coyotes captain Doan 'better' after offseason surgery

Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan said this week he is healthy and ready to go following offseason sports hernia surgery in Philadelphia.

Doan suffered a sports hernia on his left side last season after tearing the right side the year before. He had a procedure in mid-May to remove a mesh used to repair each side in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

Despite the pain, the right wing led the Coyotes with 13 goals and was third in points with 27, playing all 48 games. The highlight of his season came March 19 against the Los Angeles Kings when he scored twice on 11 shots on goal, with 13 hits.

"You can’t be as physical (with the injury)," Doan told The Arizona Republic. "You have no jump, and it hurts to get up. It hurts to move. Last season was a tough one where you felt like you were chasing it the whole year."

Doan, who turns 37 Oct. 10, a week after the Coyotes open the regular season against the New York Rangers, enters 2013-14 with a body he said feels younger.

"The things that were going on make you feel older, like everything was a little more work, and now you feel a little better," Doan said.