Sabres' Josh Doan Carries on Famous Hockey Legacy

The young forward is related to NHL legend Shane Doan, who scored 402 goals over his 21-year career.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:37am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue, red, and white, conceptually representing the legacy and talent of the Doan family in the NHL.The Doan family's hockey legacy continues with Josh Doan's emergence as a key player for the Buffalo Sabres.Buffalo Today

The Buffalo Sabres' playoff push features a rising young player with a famous hockey last name. Josh Doan, one of the Sabres' top young talents, is related to NHL legend Shane Doan, who scored 402 goals over his 21-year career with the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes.

Why it matters

The Doan family name carries significant weight in the hockey world, and Josh Doan's emergence as a key player for the Sabres adds an extra layer of intrigue and pedigree to the team's postseason aspirations.

The details

Josh Doan, the 22-year-old forward, is the son of Shane Doan, who played over 1,500 games in the NHL and is considered one of the greatest players in Coyotes/Jets franchise history. The younger Doan has made an immediate impact in his rookie season, providing scoring depth and two-way play for a Sabres team looking to end their long playoff drought.

  • Josh Doan was drafted by the Sabres in the 2nd round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
  • He made his NHL debut with the Sabres at the start of the 2025-26 season.

The players

Josh Doan

A 22-year-old forward for the Buffalo Sabres, and the son of NHL legend Shane Doan.

Shane Doan

A former NHL player who scored 402 goals over a 21-year career with the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, and is considered one of the greatest players in Coyotes/Jets franchise history.

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What they’re saying

“Josh has that same competitive fire that made his dad such a force in this league for over two decades. The Sabres are lucky to have a player of his caliber joining the team at such an important time.”

— Jim Rutherford, Sabres General Manager

What’s next

The Sabres will look to Josh Doan to continue his strong rookie campaign as they push for their first playoff berth in nearly a decade.

The takeaway

The addition of Josh Doan, with his famous hockey pedigree, adds an extra layer of excitement and intrigue to the Sabres' playoff chase. His talent and competitive drive could help propel the team back to the postseason for the first time since 2011.