MONTREAL – Skill is just one part of Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan’s repertoire and why he earned a long-term contract extension during his breakout season.
At 23, barely 100 games into his NHL career, Doan possesses maturity that belies his age and limited experience.
“I think character sets him apart,” Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Thursday, a day after Doan signed a seven-year, $48.75 million extension. “His work ethic, he comes to the rink every day with the mindset of getting better. That shows the work pays off.”
That work has paid off handsomely for Doan, who’s in his first full NHL season and feels something special building in Buffalo.
“Just wanting to be in Buffalo and wanting to be a part of the future that they’re building here,” Doan said of his new contract prior to Thursday’s game against the Canadiens in the Bell Centre. “And you can kind of feel there’s an exciting young group, it’s competitive, and any time you get a chance to be a part of a group like that, you want to make sure you are.”
Doan joined the Sabres on June 26 as part of the JJ Peterka trade with the Utah Mammoth – remember, he was viewed as a secondary piece behind defenseman Michael Kesselring – as an intriguing but unproven talent.
But the affable Doan has quickly emerged as a first-line talent, cemented himself as one of the Sabres’ core assets and endeared himself to their fan base.
“Just great character,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Tries to work, get better every day. I think we’ve seen what he’s done on the ice. I think his work speaks for itself.
“He’s on the puck, he plays the game the right way and will be an important piece of this team for a long time.”
Doan, of course, grew up in hockey. His father, Shane, who played 20 NHL seasons, was one of the most respected players of his era.
“(The) apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Kekalainen said. “I know his dad a little bit, and you rarely meet a guy with more charisma and presence and character than Shane Doan. He’s done a hell of a job as a parent, I can tell you that.”
Ruff, who coached the elder Doan with Team Canada at the World Championship, said Josh Doan “was brought up playing hockey the right way.”
“You’ve seen his play and how well he’s played for us,” he said.
Kekalainen said the Sabres felt they had to ink Doan, who could’ve become a restricted free agent following the season, right away.
“We evaluate a lot more than just the points and what they do on the ice but also what the character’s like on and off the ice,” he said. “He’s a great teammate, he sets a great example for our group with the way he works every day. Those are the types of guys you want to get locked up as quickly as possible.”
Doan has been the Sabres’ biggest surprise this season, scoring 15 goals and 35 points in 49 games entering Thursday’s contest, offensive totals that ranked third and fourth, respectively, on the team.
His new environment has helped buoy his career-best season. When he joined the Sabres, he said he “could feel the energy” in “an amazing group of guys.”
“I’ve been given an unbelievable opportunity here to grow as a player and a person, and I think it just meshed well, that myself and this group kind of came together and we got something going right now,” Doan said.
As the Sabres began stretching at center ice following Thursday’s pregame skate, one of Doan’s teammates likely nudged him into the middle of the circle as they pounded their sticks to celebrate his new contract.
Doan called the moment “pretty cool.”
“It’s rare to find a guy off the ice that everybody likes as much as Josh,” Kesselring said.
Doan’s contract includes a $3.5 million signing bonus in the first and second seasons, according to Puckpedia.com.
Having completed Doan’s contract, Kekalainen will turn some attention to re-signing winger Alex Tuch, who can become an unrestricted free agent following the season.
“We’ll get some answers when we get to (that) … hopefully in the near future,” he said.
Major stick taps for Josh Doan. pic.twitter.com/8HUbk1Nl2s
— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) January 22, 2026