Josh Doan is turning heads in the NHL, and not just because he’s the son of a hockey legend. The Buffalo Sabres are on fire, riding a ten-game winning streak, and Doan is a big reason why. But here’s where it gets interesting: his stellar performance this season isn’t just boosting the team’s standings—it’s also setting the stage for a potentially massive pay raise. With 11 goals and 26 points in just 39 games, the 23-year-old forward is on pace for a 55-point season, a stat line that’s hard to ignore.
Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic recently praised Doan as a ‘building block’ for the Sabres, suggesting he could be the perfect long-term partner for star player Tage Thompson. And this is the part most people miss: Doan’s impending restricted free agency, coupled with his arbitration rights, gives him significant leverage in negotiations. While arbitration is rarely the preferred route, its mere possibility shifts the power dynamics in favor of the player—and Doan’s camp knows it.
But here’s the controversial part: Is Doan’s breakout season enough to warrant a deal like Matthew Coronato’s seven-year, $6.5MM AAV extension with the Calgary Flames? Fairburn thinks so, calling it ‘the floor’ for Doan if he keeps up his current pace. Yet, some might argue that committing big money to a player based on a single season’s performance is risky, especially with the salary cap projected to rise. Should the Sabres lock him in now, or wait to see if this hot streak cools off?
Adding to the intrigue, Doan’s emergence is already changing the narrative around the Sabres’ trade with the Utah Mammoth. At the time, JJ Peterka was seen as the prize, but Doan’s impact in Buffalo—compared to Peterka’s 29 points in 41 games in Utah—is making that deal look like a steal for the Sabres. Doan’s fundamentals as a player seem rock-solid, and his potential as a middle-six winger is undeniable. But is that enough to justify a long-term, high-dollar commitment?
Here’s the question we’re all left pondering: In a league where consistency is king, is Josh Doan’s breakout season a flash in the pan, or the start of something special? Let us know what you think in the comments—is Doan worth the big bucks, or should the Sabres proceed with caution?
