matters worse, the defense has not been the elite unit tha

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- As the NHL offseason extended into July, Arizona Coyotes fans became concerned. Captain Shane Doan had not re-signed with the team.Behind the scenes there was no need to worry. Once Doan decided he wanted to play a 21st season, it was just a matter of working out the details and finding time to get a contract done.Doan signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $2.5 million on Tuesday, ensuring the NHLs longest-tenured captain will remain in the desert for at least one more season. The total deal will be around $5 million with a deferred signing bonus and deferred incentives.Obviously, I wanted to get it done as soon as possible, but I know there were things that needed to be put in place, Doan said. It wasnt anything I had anxiety about or anything like that. Its something we knew eventually would get done.The 39-year-old Doan is coming off one of his best seasons, leading Arizona with 28 goals and finishing with 19 assists in 72 games. He has spent his entire 20-year career with the franchise, starting when it was in Winnipeg in 1995, and is its all-time leader in goals (296), points (945) and games (1,466).Doan had opportunities to be traded to or sign with Stanley Cup-caliber teams, particularly after becoming a free agent four years ago. Instead, he remained loyal to the only franchise hes played for, further endearing him to an Arizona fan base that already appreciated his blue-collar work ethic and contributions to the community.Hes captain, our leader, someone who brings everyone to the next level, Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. Were excited to reach an agreement with him and get him on a team we feel has a chance to be real good by the end of the season.Doan had previously signed a four-year, $21.2 million contract that expired at the start of free agency this month and had been debating whether to continue playing.Arizonas youth movement helped lure him back.The Coyotes had a disappointing 2015-16 season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but have a strong core of young players. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair had solid rookie seasons in 2015-16 and Arizonas system is considered one of the NHLs best.Those young guys, I cant say enough about how much they made me feel relevant, Doan said. With a young group, its easy to be the old guy nagging, kind of pointing things out all the time, but our young guys were always respectful and eager to listen, want to listen. That makes it fun.Doan was drafted by the Coyotes with the seventh overall pick of the 1995 draft and was named captain in 2003. 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"I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Anthony Tolliver Blazers Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The losses keep coming and the pressure is growing for the Minnesota Vikings.You can see it on kicker Blair Walsh, who missed his fourth extra point of the season in a 26-20 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday.You can see it in the desperate defense, the unit that carried the Vikings to a 5-0 start on the strength of dynamic playmaking, a relentless pass rush and a group that turned turnovers into touchdowns.And you can see it in a decimated offensive line that lost its fourth tackle of the season when Jake Long tore his Achilles tendon against the Redskins, leaving them with few options going forward.This team is used to winning. So, they dont like it, Zimmer said of his teams four-game losing skid. Theyre frustrated by it. Im frustrated by it, but the bottom line is we need to win football games. The best way to do that is do what we normally do, prepare, win the crucial situations of the game, study, work hard in practice, play hard in the games and execute.Finding answers to what ails the Vikings does not figure to be easy.Zimmer again was noncommittal on Walshs future with the team. The Vikings brought six kickers in last week to work out, but ultimately decided to stick with the incumbent. But he leads the league in missed extra points and the issues appear to have rattled him. Walsh was at team headquarters on Monday working out, but Zimmer said he planned to speak to GM Rick Spielman later in the day about it.Were going to see what all the options are, Zimmer said. Were going to see what the options are at tackle. Were going to see what the options are at kickker, and then make a determination and go.ddddddddddddLong joined Matt Kalil, Andre Smith and Phil Loadholt as offensive tackles to suffer season-ending injuries. Left guard Alex Boone talked about making the move to left tackle to try to fill in the gap, but Zimmer declined to discuss that specific option on Monday.To make matters worse, the defense has not been the elite unit that it was at the start of the season. Opponents are getting rid of the ball quicker to neutralize the pass rush, injuries to Captain Munnerlyn and Eric Kendricks have weakened them and a group that did not allow more than 16 points in a game during the 5-0 start has given up 89 points in the last four weeks.Were trying to press, trying to make these plays, cornerback Terence Newman said. Were not just letting them come to us. Were not technically sound. Were kind of guessing here and there and its not helping us.Munnerlyn missed the Redskins game with a sprained ankle. He said Monday that he is hopeful he will return on Sunday at home against Arizona, but it was too early to tell. Even watching on his television at home, he said he could see his defensive teammates trying too hard to make big plays to swing the momentum.The fires been lit, to be honest with you, Munnerlyn said. We just dont know how to put the fire out right now. ... Weve got to put this fire out and start back winning football games around here.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '