Arizona State doesn't have a traditional hockey pedigree, but two Sun Devils made a strong case this week that Tempe is producing legitimate NHL contributors. Josh Doan and Joey Daccord both turned in standout performances across a busy October weekend, giving ASU alumni something to cheer about on two different coasts.
Doan Lights the Lamp in Buffalo
Josh Doan capped the week on a high note Monday, scoring a goal and finishing at +2 as the Buffalo Sabres knocked off the Florida Panthers 5-3. It was the kind of two-way performance that has defined Doan's early NHL identity — he's not just putting up points, he's doing it while being a net positive on the ice. The Sabres needed every bit of it against a Panthers squad that doesn't go quietly.
Doan's week wasn't without turbulence. Saturday's 4-1 loss to Utah left Buffalo searching for answers, but Doan bounced back sharply. For an ASU product still carving out his role in the league, a multi-category game against a defending-contender caliber team is exactly the kind of résumé line that matters.
Daccord Backstops Seattle Past Washington
A day earlier, Joey Daccord was the story in Seattle. The Kraken goaltender stopped 33 of 36 shots Sunday as Seattle handled the Washington Capitals 5-3, posting a .917 save percentage in a wire-to-wire win. Daccord didn't need to be perfect — Freddy Gaudreau and Ryan Winterton each contributed a goal and an assist to fuel the offense — but he was steady when Washington pressed, keeping the game from tightening in the third period.
Daccord has been one of the more quietly reliable starters in the Western Conference, and Sunday was another data point. Facing a Capitals team with legitimate offensive firepower, he made the saves he needed to make and let his teammates do the rest.
The Bigger Picture for ASU
What stands out isn't just that two Sun Devils played well in the same week — it's the roles they're playing. Daccord is a starting goaltender on a playoff-caliber roster. Doan is a young forward proving he belongs on a rebuilding Sabres team with real upside. Neither is a depth afterthought.
Arizona State's hockey program has operated in the shadow of traditional college powers, but its NHL alumni list is quietly growing into something worth tracking. This week was a reminder of exactly that.
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