Josh Doan’s ‘elite mindset’ earned him a task with Utah Hockey Membership

André Tourigny places his gamers and prospects in two classes: if and when.

The Utah Hockey Membership head coach used the analogy to explain the evolution of Josh Doan.

There was by no means a query of if Doan would finally be a fortified NHL participant, Tourigny defined. It was a matter of when.

“Doan has at all times been a when for us. We knew he would play,” Tourigny mentioned. “He’s doing a very good job and I believe he’s having fun with each minute of it.”

The journey to a constant lineup spot in Salt Lake Metropolis has not been straightforward for Doan. The 23-year-old performed the primary 9 matchups of the season in October with the Membership however was then assigned to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, with whom he stayed till January.

The organizational objective was to have Doan play in additional conditions, rack up extra ice time and work on his physicality, velocity and the well-roundedness of his sport.

It’s one thing Doan understood, however that doesn’t imply it got here and not using a psychological problem.

“I believe with all people it’s simply pure to have that disappointment. However with Josh, he is aware of that there’s not a variety of time to waste,” mentioned Steve Potvin, head coach of the Roadrunners. “To be actual trustworthy with you, I believe he’s simply a type of guys that basically adapts the place his ft are and he’s going to do what he can to be the perfect that he can.”

Doan shortly embraced the developmental stage of his younger profession. Within the 25 video games between his cargo to the AHL and being recalled in January, Doan posted 21 factors (9 targets, 12 assists) whereas reinserting himself into the Tucson hockey tradition — he’s, in any case, a Scottsdale, Arizona, native.

“It simply reveals so nicely on Josh that he’s capable of deal with what’s vital,” Potvin mentioned. “He cares in regards to the atmosphere and he doesn’t suppose that he’s too massive for it. He dives proper in, he builds relationships.”

Doan acquired his second probability on the NHL lineup when Dylan Guenther was dominated out indefinitely with a lower-body damage on Jan. 10. Now, even with Guenther and Logan Cooley (who additionally handled a lower-body damage) again wholesome, Doan has maintained his standing as an everyday.

“I used to be tremendous excited when he acquired known as up after I went down. It’s a fairly related scenario to what I had final 12 months,” Guenther mentioned. “I’m joyful for him — I don’t suppose anyone deserves it extra. He’s a brilliant good participant and only a actually good particular person. Enjoyable to have across the room.”

Grind by way of the primary half of the 12 months within the AHL, get known as again and keep — it’s the path that Doan took however can also be very acquainted to Guenther. The 21-year-old ahead spent the start of the 2023-24 season in Tucson the place he logged 28 factors (10 targets, 18 assists) in 29 video games earlier than getting recalled by the then-Arizona Coyotes.

Guenther burst onto the NHL stage with 35 factors (18 targets, 17 assists) within the final 45 video games of the season and has not sniffed the AHL since. What’s extra, he signed an eight-year, $57.14 million contract extension with Utah in September.

Whereas inherently completely different gamers, Guenther has been an instance for Doan that a while within the minors is usually a good factor in the long term.

“Simply staying assured is the most important factor. There’s a time the place you may go down there and perhaps not really feel such as you’re at an NHL degree,” Doan mentioned. “[Guenther] did a very good job of creating positive I stayed prepared, stayed ready for after I do come again up I don’t miss out on a stride … he was reaching out and ensuring all the things was okay.”

Potvin bore witness to each Doan and Guenther fine-tuning their video games on the AHL degree earlier than leaping up. He helped form them into the gamers Utah followers get to observe as we speak. The one factor that caught out to Potvin was their perspective.

“Their elite mindsets are bar none,” Potvin mentioned. “They’re very singularly targeted they usually know precisely what they need to do they usually know precisely what they should do to be able to obtain it. They’re simply very clear-minded, elite individuals.”

Doan, who was a second-round choose of the Coyotes within the 2021 NHL Draft, has shortly carved a transparent position for himself up to now few months in Utah. He’s noticeably tenacious on the forecheck, battles for inside ice, wins foot races and has leaned additional into the bodily aspect of his play.

Doan, merely, cares so much about crew success, which has pushed him to do the little issues proper.

“It’s rewarding to be a part of this lineup proper now,” Doan mentioned. “We’ve a variety of good guys, actually expert gamers on the market. To be within the combine each night time — attempt to convey one thing just a little bit completely different and assist the crew win as a lot as I can.”

Away from the rink, Doan — and his St. Bernard poodle combine Hank — have moved again in with defenseman Michael Kesselring.

The one factor is, Kesselring has cats. The roommates have found out a system to maintain the peace. Doan and Kesselring put in a gate with guidelines — the cats aren’t allowed downstairs and Hank isn’t allowed upstairs.

“They type of launched themselves just a little bit. Hank was on a leash simply to verify the cats didn’t get too scared. He was good and delicate with them. He likes cats, they don’t like canines, although,” Doan mentioned. “It’s the King’s fault, we are saying within the family.”

Hank has been with Doan by way of the ups and downs. Doan acquired his canine final 12 months earlier than his first professional season in Arizona and now walks him by way of Utah as a constant NHLer.

Whereas mixtures have modified, Doan is at the moment skating with Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain. It’s a heavyweight trio. The third line has a median peak of simply above 6-foot-3 and a median weight of 210 kilos. They’re decided to be greater than only a robust matchup, although.

“We’re slowly discovering our mojo just a little bit by way of scoring,” Doan mentioned. “We’ve finished a very good job of defending pucks and creating O-zone time, however I believe attending to the cage and making an attempt to bang in a pair targets, get just a little little bit of objective assist for our massive guys, is one thing that we’ll take delight in.”

There may be nonetheless a variety of room for development in Doan’s sport and position, Tourigny identified, nevertheless it appears his “when” has lastly come.

Utah Hockey Membership is a greater crew due to it.

“It’s an actual honor to be a part of this group,” Doan mentioned.