I do not know much about Semin, but I can almost assure you that Doan is not simply holding out for more money. Of course I cannot confirm that, because I haven't personally had conversations with the guy. But let's put things in context. He's one of the remarkably few individuals in the free agency era that has played an over 15 year career with the same team. From a faith perspective, he is a born again Christian, which is another presumptive indicator that his personal values trump his desire for "worldly gain." (That's not an invitation for a religious discussion!)
Doan continues to delay his deadline in hopes that the tumultuous Coyotes franchise can avoid the seemingly inevitable departure from the Phoenix area. Unfortunately, this is hurting him from the standpoint of maximizing his potential earnings from a financially stronger suitor (not to mention a potential Cup contender). I think he still believes that the Coyotes are a cup contender, but let's face it: the franchise simply cannot compete in the free agency market to attract raw talent given the uncertainty surrounding the franchise. If the Coyotes had some stability, with all of their cap space, they easily could've made a run at Rick Nash. But why on earth would Rick Nash want to come into this situation? This past season's miraculous run in my humble opinion is highly unlikely to repeat itself, despite the stout defense, coaching, and goaltending that still remains a part of the equation.
I try to follow the news on the Phoenix Coyotes franchise on a daily basis. The individuals that threatend the lawsuit ultimately did not get enough signatures, which would seemingly pave the way for the sale to Jamison and his group.
Doan will likely give the franchise another two weeks to figure everything out, but ultimately he is going to realize that for his family's sake, he is going to have to sign with another team. I think he will feel that he is betraying the franchise that gave him this opportunity to play hockey, and it will take him a while to get over that. But if I am Shane Doan, I simply cannot flirt with Phoenix anymore. I have to go to another team, and it only makes sense to go to a potential contender. I think he's going to sign with either Pittsburgh or San Jose.
