Call it a day, or one last kick at the can?

That's the decision facing a pair of longtime former NHL captains Shane Doan and Jarome Iginla heading into the summer.

Their fates, however, may not rest in their hands.

First, the unfortunate reality. Out of the five oldest soon-to-be unrestricted free agents, Doan and Iginla represent the only two yet to win a Stanley Cup, surely one of the biggest factors in seeking a contract for 2017-18.

(Courtesy: Cap Friendly)

The story so far

Another thing that ties these players together is the fact they were both named captains of their respective teams at the onset of the 2003-04 season.

Iginla held the post with the Calgary Flames until 2012-13, at which point the rebuilding club traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Doan led the Coyotes until Monday, when Arizona - the only franchise he's ever played for - announced it would not offer him a contract.

Both are all-timers for those two clubs, and could go into the Hall of Fame in those jerseys. But the ultimate level of success in hockey has thus far eluded them.

Iginla came oh-so-close to winning with the Flames, losing in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Cup Final. He's been on a fresh hunt for a few years now, first agreeing to be sent to the Penguins and then subsequently signing with the then-contending Boston Bruins for the 2013-14 season.

He then made a serious misstep on the Cup trail, signing a three-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The team didn't make the playoffs during his tenure and was historically bad this past season. Iginla even earned a Masterton nomination for persevering through that particular mess.

Iginla was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Kings - a team that also fell short of the playoffs - in a failed attempt at winning this past season, and has said he's interested in returning for at least one more go at it.

It's a sentiment echoed by Doan, or at least his agent.

After the Coyotes made their announcement, Terry Bross said his client doesn't plan to retire and it's "time for him to get a shot at the Cup."

In Doan's 20 seasons in Arizona, the Coyotes qualified for the postseason only eight times, advancing as far as the Western Conference Final on one occasion (2012).

To say he's hungry for a win would seem to be an understatement.

Related: 3 fits for Shane Doan in free agency

So what's next?

Well, in order to sign a new deal, a deal must be offered, and here's where things may get a bit tricky.

Neither player will command much with respect to term and valuation on new deals, and whether teams with legitimate Cup aspirations come calling or rely instead on younger talent remains to be seen.

The NHL is trending younger and faster with each passing season, and Doan (six) and Iginla (14) combined for 20 goals in 2016-17. Their leadership, heart, and veteran experience will be valued, but the reality is they've lost a step in the skates and some velocity on the stick.

Doan has also reportedly been offered a front-office job with the Coyotes should he choose to hang up his skates, and Iginla would likely be offered a similar opportunity somewhere around the league, maybe even in Calgary.

It's entirely possible that one or both of these consummate pros will be left out in the cold, and to have played their final years with the lowly Coyotes and Avalanche would be a tough way to go out.

But if they do return, there'll be no shortage of hockey fans rooting for them to finally lift that Cup.

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