Coyotes' Doan has Rocky Mountain fever
Doctors identified the ailment that will continue to sideline Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan at least through the holidays next week.
The 37-year-old veteran has a form of Rocky Mountain fever disease and is not with the team on its road trip before the Christmas break, Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said Friday.
"Our medical team is on top of it," Maloney said. "Every day he seems like he's getting a little better and a little more energy and has started to exercise a little more. We're encouraged. He's trending in a positive manner and for us. It's just going to take time."
Symptons of the bacterial disease include headache and fever, which Doan has experienced. His last game action was Dec. 4.
Doan is taking medication during his recovery. He is on injured reserve and considered week to week.
"It's certainly not to the point that we're worried that he'll never return," Maloney said. "But it is my understanding that it's an illness that responds to medication. Everybody's different."
Doan was not able to make a scheduled skate on Friday.
"There's an uncertainty of how long it's going to take him, and that's why it's hard to describe it because ideally you'd like to say after the holidays, another week or 10 days of rest, he'll be ready to go," Maloney said. "But that may not be the case. It could very well take weeks and weeks and weeks. We just don't know."
In 27 games this season, Doan has 12 goals and 11 assists. He has spent his entire career with the Coyotes since his NHL debut in 1995.
