Doan makes NHL debut with Coyotes, following in father's footsteps

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Josh Doan made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Mullett Arena on Tuesday, and he wouldn't have wanted it to be with any other team.

Doan, who was recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League on Monday, is following the same path as his father, franchise icon Shane Doan, who spent his entire 21-season NHL career (1995-2017) with the Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets.

Josh Doan became the first player born and trained in Arizona to play for his home-state team. The Coyotes selected him in the second round (No. 37) in the 2021 NHL Draft.

"I'm excited, a little bit nervous, because it's something you dream of and it's an opportunity you’re hoping to get," Doan said prior to the game. "But when it finally comes it catches you off guard a little bit.

"Since I was a kid, I've been a Coyotes fan since Day One and watched everything and followed the prospects, and to finally be doing this is definitely something cool and something [as a kid] I didn't think would be a possibility."

This wasn't a promotion made as a courtesy to the Doan family or out of curiosity to see what the 22-year-old could do at the NHL level. Josh Doan is leading Tucson and is third among AHL rookies with 46 points (26 goals, 20 assists) in 62 games.

Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong called Josh Doan on Sunday to give him the news.

"I wanted to be the first one to congratulate you and tell you how excited we are to bring you up," Armstrong said during the phone call. "It's well-earned. You've had a heck of a year down there, and you're going to get a good opportunity coming up here, playing with the big boys.”

Doan has a familiar name in Arizona, but he's already proving quite capable of making a name for himself.

"He had a good [training] camp with us, then he went there and worked very hard and he earned the right to be here. He deserved it," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. "I'm happy he can feel really good about himself knowing full well he earned everything he got."

Doan played two seasons at Arizona State after being drafted, with 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 35 games as a freshman in 2021-22 and 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games last season, when he also was named captain.

He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Coyotes on March 16, 2023, and had six points (three goals, three assists) in 14 AHL games to finish last season.

"I like the decision last year to jump up," Tourigny said. "He couldn’t stay in college and wanted to challenge himself and he went to Tucson, had a good end of the year and learned a lot."

Shane Doan leads the Coyotes/ Jets franchise all-time in games played (1,540), goals (402), assists (570) and points (972). He had 13 seasons with at least 20 goals was voted the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2010 as the player who best displayed leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2012.

After spending three seasons working in the Coyotes front office, he's in his first season as a special advisor to Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and was on a scouting trip when his son called to tell him of his promotion.

The father's advice to his son? Do the little things and don't worry about the big things.

"That's what he says to me before every game, so it's just repetition at this point," Josh Doan said. "Stick to what you can control and everything else will take care of itself. … Take a deep breath and focus on that, that's all you really can do."

Shane Doan wore No. 19 in the NHL. Fittingly enough, and no doubt as a tribute to his father, Josh Doan will wear No. 91.

Josh Doan said leaving home Tuesday for the morning skate was a little different.

"My mom [Andrea] was giggling because she's seen me walk out this door to go to the rink a thousand times, but it's just a little bit different today," he said.