Maple Leafs hire Coyotes legend Doan as special advisor to GM Treliving

Shane Doan, the long-time Arizona Coyotes captain, has been hired by the Toronto Mape Leafs as a special advisor to new general manager Brad Treliving.

Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Nick Kypreos and ESPN’s Kevin Weekes were the first to report the connection between Doan and the Maple Leafs.

“I’m very excited to welcome Shane to the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Treliving said in a news release.

“Through his more than 1,500 NHL games played, his management roles, being an NHL team captain for more than a decade and being just a wonderful human being, Shane has touched all the aspects of the game which make him a terrific fit with the Maple Leafs organization, its staff and players.”

Doan played his entire 1,570-game career with the Winnipeg Jets-Arizona Coyotes organization, the vast majority as captain, scoring 402 goals and 972 points.

After he retired in 2017, Doan joined the NHL front office, and in 2021, he returned to the Coyotes as chief hockey development officer. Doan and the Coyotes parted ways in September 2022.

Most recently, the 46-year-old served as Hockey Canada’s assistant general manager for the Men’s National Team, winning gold at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.

Doan and Treliving have a strong working relationship dating back to the executive’s time in Arizona as assistant general manager from 2003 to the end of the 2014 hockey season.

“I am honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs in this role. The Maple Leafs have a such deep history and a passionate fan base, and I’m excited to contribute in any way I can in the organization’s pursuit of their ultimate goal,” Doan said.

“I’m also thrilled to once again work alongside Brad Treliving and continue a working relationship that began during Brad’s time with the Coyotes.”

The Maple Leafs hired Treliving last week after parting ways with former executive Kyle Dubas, who was recently formally introduced as President of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Doan’s role in Toronto will be similar to what Jason Spezza brought to the hockey team as a former assistant to Dubas. Spezza, 39, joined the Maple Leafs front office after his retirement. He resigned on May 19 — the same day the Leafs announced they would not renew Dubas’ contract as general manager.

The addition of Doan will add another interesting wrinkle to the team’s most-pressing piece of business: Negotiating a new contract with Auston Matthews, the Arizona native who grew up cheering for Doan’s Coyotes.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for hockey in Arizona and inspiring kids like me growing up playing the game in the valley. Congratulations on your jersey retirement Doaner ! So well deserved. ???? pic.twitter.com/bQ092XXPbx

— Auston Matthews (@AM34) February 24, 2019

With files from Sportsnet staff