This time, Shane Doan really means it.
The Phoenix Coyotes captain has a new deadline for the only NHL franchise he's ever known, as the 16-year NHL veteran is giving former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison until Friday to make progress toward his attempted purchase of the Coyotes before Doan begins to move on the considerable interest that he's received since NHL free agency began on July 1.
Conveniently enough, that deadline will also give Doan time to see what's happening with one of his possible destinations, the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers will learn by Wednesday night whether they will in fact be acquiring Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber, after the restricted free agent signed a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet with Philadelphia last week. The Flyers met with Doan over the weekend, as did the New York Rangers, but if the Predators don't match the offer sheet and Weber becomes a Flyer, Philadelphia will be right up against the salary cap, and would be out of the running (barring a deal that sends NHL players to Nashville for the four first-round draft picks they'd acquire by not matching Philly's offer).
Of course, the Rangers and Flyers are hardly the only game in town when it comes to Doan, whose two-way game, work ethic and locker room presence make him a valuable addition to any team with Stanley Cup aspirations. The Rangers and Flyers certainly fit that description, but so do the Pittsburgh Penguins, and agent Terry Bross expects that his client will meet with Ray Shero and Penguins management should he make the decision to leave Phoenix.
Doan's lengthy decision making process, with its setting and removal of deadlines, may be drawn out, but it's given the veteran forward an opportunity to evaluate his options around the league as well as in Phoenix. In the time since Doan's departure from Phoenix arose as a possibility, the Rangers added Rick Nash, the Flyers made the move for Weber, and the Detroit Red Wings - perennial contenders who could certainly be a destination for Doan - all but struck out on the free agent market, landing some nice complementary players, but no one who could soften the blow of Nicklas Lidstrom's retirement.
Make no mistake, if Doan does leave Phoenix, it will be for one of the top contenders. On that score, the Rangers are looking pretty good right about now.