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Coyotes GM: Doan hasn't asked for a trade

Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty

It's hard to imagine Shane Doan playing for another NHL team. But it's possible, as the March 1 trade deadline nears, that he's in his final days as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.

However, on Friday, general manager John Chayka reiterated that if Doan is done in the desert, that will be the veteran's decision. The two have talked, Chayka said, and if Doan decides he wants a run at the Cup, the two will talk some more.

"I respect him too much to not have (that discussion)," Chayka told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "Having said that, he hasn't told me to explore these opportunities and look into things. He's happy with being a Coyote. He signed here for a reason. He's only ever played here. That's where we're at today."

Doan said a month ago that he'd be open to a trade, but his destination "would have to be exactly perfect." He's on an expiring one-year contract.

The Coyotes are playing out their season. If it weren't for the sad Colorado Avalanche, Chayka's crew would be the worst in the league.

Doan, 40, has only five goals and 14 assists in 56 games, but is playing over 15 minutes a game. There's no doubt competing for a Cup would get him going.

Chayka said he's approaching the deadline as a "building opportunity" and acknowledged that he has received calls about Doan's availability. But his answer's been the same: Doan will let Chayka know if he wants to go, not the other way around.

Doan's spent his entire career with the Coyotes franchise, since its days in Winnipeg. He has 401 goals and 964 points in 1,522 games. He has 15 goals and 28 points in 55 career playoff games.

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