How the Coyotes Turned Derek Stepan Into Josh Doan

The last name Doan carries major significance in Arizona’s hockey culture. Both Shane and Josh Doan created memorable moments in the desert. Josh’s father, Shane Doan, played over 1,500 NHL games and recorded 972 points for the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise. He was captain of the Coyotes for 13 seasons and led Arizona to its only Western Conference Final appearance.

However, without a trade, Josh Doan may have not become the first Arizona-born, raised, and trained player to join the Coyotes. 

Derek Stepan

On June 23, 2017, the Coyotes acquired forward Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Tony Deangelo and the seventh pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft – Lias Andersson became that pick, he has 17 NHL points. With New York looking to save money and give younger forwards Kevin Hayes, Pavel Buchnevich, and J.T. Miller more ice time, Stepan was the odd man out.

With four years remaining on his contract worth $6.5 million per year, Stepan became the Coyotes’ first-line center. In his first season in Arizona, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound center came one point shy of tying his career high in points, with 56. In the 2017-18 season, the Coyotes lost their first 11 games (0-10-1) and finished with a 29-41-12 record, but Stepan still earned power-play and penalty kill time.

In the next two seasons, Stepan failed to match that offensive production. In 2018-19, the Hastings, Minnesota native recorded 35 points in 72 games. He then tallied seven fewer points the following season with 28 in 70 games, although, the Coyotes made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years – Arizona defeated the Nashville Predators in a best-of-five series (due to the COVID pandemic) and lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round 4-1. Stepan had five points in nine games, his last in the desert.

Stepan to the Ottawa Senators

On Dec. 26, 2020, the Ottawa Senators acquired Stepan in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick from the Coyotes. Arizona received the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 2021 second-round pick in the deal. In a prior trade on Feb. 23, 2019, Ottawa received Columbus’ 2020 and 2021 second-round picks and Anthony Duclair. The Senators dealt Ryan Dzingel and a 2019 seven-round pick to the Blue Jackets in the deal. Therefore, the Blue Jackets’ 2021 second-round pick was involved in two trades to make its way to the Coyotes. Little did they know that this non-blockbuster move would bring home another Doan to the franchise.

Stepan scored six points in 20 games for the Senators but missed the rest of the season after surgery was required to fix an injured shoulder. The Carolina Hurricanes became Stepan’s home for the next two seasons before he retired on Oct. 3, 2023. In 890 NHL career games, Stepan recorded 515 points. 

Josh Doan’s Upbringing

Josh Doan played for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies. After two seasons with the Jr. Coyotes in 2018-19 and 2019-20 when he scored over a point per game, Doan played for the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League. In 2020-21, he scored 31 goals and 70 points in 53 games, his best season in Chicago – a 56-point difference from his first year with the Steel in 2019-20.