Coyotes GM: Doan can stay with club 'as long as he wants to'

The door to keep playing in the desert is wide open for Shane Doan.

That's the message from Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney, who's more than willing to keep the longtime captain in the fold after his contract expires at season's end.

"We had a conversation with his agent a few weeks ago. We both decided to evaluate at the end of year, see where his mindset is at," Maloney told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

"Shane Doan will stay with us as long as he wants to stay with us."

Maloney also noted he won't expedite the building process despite a surprising start that finds the dogs in playoff contention, meaning Doan will likely have to decide whether to play out his career as a mentor to the likes of Max Domi and Anthony Duclair or take a shot at the Stanley Cup with a contending team.

The 39-year-old signed a four-year, $21.2-million extension in 2012 with the only franchise he's ever played for, and has recorded six goals and five assists in 23 games this season.

Doan leads the club in every major statistical category since moving from Winnipeg in 1996.