Arizona Coyotes slammed for Shane Doan mistreatment report: 'Absolute joke'
Arizona Coyotes fans have a huge hole in their heart with the relocation of their beloved franchise to Salt Lake City, Utah.
And now, many also have a very bad taste in their mouth after a scathing report Tuesday detailed what led to franchise legend Shane Doan's departure from the team.
ESPN issued the report, which cast light on Doan's departure to join the Toronto Maple Leafs' front office in 2023.
Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski wrote: "Perhaps the most significant departure, at least symbolically, was Shane Doan. He began his career in Winnipeg, moved with the franchise to Phoenix and spent 20 seasons as the face of the franchise, through 1,466 career games. He was there during the Coyotes' final game at Mullett Arena, cheering on his son Josh Doan, whom Arizona selected 37th overall in the 2021 NHL draft. Doan worked for the Coyotes after his retirement as chief hockey development officer but had higher aspirations, eventually seeking to become their president of hockey operations in 2023. According to a source, he was told he 'wasn't ready' for the position, a verdict handed down by the owner's son Alex Meruelo Jr., the team's chief brand officer who had taken a more active interest in the hockey operations department."
More: Arizona Coyotes fans named most loyal in NHL after team's relocation to Utah
As you might imagine, many on social media slammed the Coyotes for the reported way it handled Shane Doan's departure:
Imagine being a 21-year NHL veteran who is beloved by the entire fanbase getting told by a 24-year old who doesn't know what a blue line is that you're "not ready" for a job in hockey opps... pic.twitter.com/4fGT9IL4Ka
— Makayla Perkins (@MakaylaEPerkins) April 30, 2024
Alex Jr, of all people, delivering the news to Shane Doan that he "wasn't ready" to be the president of hockey ops truly is the cherry on top. https://t.co/53N67Zv4Wg pic.twitter.com/6kq2bqrUdl
— Mike Gould (@miketgould) April 30, 2024
So Alex Meruelo Jr. (Not Alex Meruelo the owner) but the idiot who ran the @ArizonaCoyotes like an absolute joke...IS THE REASON SHANE DOAN LEFT FOR TORONTO?! HE WASN'T READY TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE HOCKEY OPERATIONS?!?!?!
This franchise literally could've been saved. #Yotes pic.twitter.com/ggKIL2ymVG— EZ (@ErikZarins) April 30, 2024
Not sure how anyone can ever trust Alex Meruelo and his ownership group again..
All of their lies and failures continue to be put on paper... From not paying bills to pushing Shane Doan out — this isn’t negative coverage, this has been the truth behind the scene for years. https://t.co/qMbEimsTfq— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 30, 2024
There is a lot to unpack here, but the irony of Alex Meruelo Jr telling Shane Doan that he wasn’t ready for PoHo position is amazing. The nepo baby asking fantasy hockey questions in interviews and tweeting from the team account should maybe sit this one out. https://t.co/SIBwnlCTQH
— Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) April 30, 2024
if I was Shane Doan and Alex Muerelo Jr. told me that I “wasn’t ready” for a president of hockey operations role I would have swung on him on the spot oh my god https://t.co/aJdTaOprl0
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) April 30, 2024
What pisses me off is his son told the best player in franchise history that he wasn't suited to be President of Operations, effectively chasing Shane Doan out of here when he could have had his and other's support, and he has burnt those bridges beyond repair!
— Louis Schanz (@KingLouieLouie) April 30, 2024
I think we now know why the Shane Doan banner was abandoned in Glendale. #ownermalpractice https://t.co/GbW8I0hygW
— Todd in Phoenix (@toddinphx) April 30, 2024
Lololol Shane Doan left because Alex Jr said that Mr. Coyote “wasn’t ready” to be president of hockey ops. Just take this entire ownership group and throw it directly in the trash. I can’t wait for them to fail and be gone. #yotes https://t.co/IRmiuLM4A7
— Todd in Phoenix (@toddinphx) April 30, 2024
Went speechless after reading this.
Shane Doan literally could've saved the franchise... pic.twitter.com/A4WWWCUsBj— EZ (@ErikZarins) April 30, 2024
This is the part that pisses me off the most. A kid (yes I know he's technically an adult) who's daddy handed him a role he was NOT equipped to have. Told a 21 year NHL player, who worked for the NHL after retiring, he was "not ready" for President of Hockey Operations. pic.twitter.com/1269tTRZfU
— Donna (@Donna_0903) April 30, 2024
That's what completely blew my mind. The kid graduated college in 2019, this was his first year out of college, and he never played a game of hockey in his life. And he is telling a 21 year vet that he isn't ready for a role in hockey ops.
— Sheryl (@Serenade_az) April 30, 2024
Just when Coyotes fans thought it couldn't get worse …
More: With the Coyotes gone, what will it take for the NHL to bring hockey back to Arizona?
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Coyotes slammed for Shane Doan mistreatment report: 'Absolute joke'
