The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t make big moves when free agency opened on July 1. Since they added players like Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, and Corey Perry during the week of the 2023 NHL, and with just a few more departures, room on the current roster seemed slim, making the lack of moves justifiable. As General Manager Kyle Davidson said, The “heavy lifting” is on the list But in hockey, if there’s a good player still available, you take a chance, and that’s what happened when they decided to sign free agent forward Ryan Donato to a two-year, $4 million contract.
The “exciting” new striker for the Blackhawks
The Boston Bruins drafted Donato in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft. At the time, he was considered one of their hottest prospects. At Dexter Southfield School, a USHS prep school, he scored 78 points in 30 games (37 goals, 41 assists) in 2013-14. He went on to play with the South Shore Kings in the United States Premier Hockey League, where he scored 10 points in 13 games, and made his way to the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) with 10 points in eight games. , before heading to Harvard in 2015. He spent three years at Harvard, recording 60 goals, 44 points, and 104 scores in 97 games. He also played for Team USA at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and led the team with six points in five games.
Donato made his NHL debut with the Bruins in March 2018, scoring his first NHL goal in his first game, He impressed his teammates and coach Bruce Cassidy level of competition. He spent two years in Boston with 18 points in 46 games before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in February 2019 and then transferred again to the San Jose Sharks in October 2020. He scored 24 goals, 35 assists, and 59 points in 134 games between the two teams. Ultimately, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft and played some of his best hockey with the Kraken. He scored 31 points in 74 games in 2021-22, and last season, he remained consistent with 27 points in 71 games with two points in 14 games in the playoffs.
Donato fit with Blackhawk
Davidson Donato’s prowess mentioned, The ability to play all the forward positions, the ability to jump in and fill in different roles whenever needed in the line-up was why his signing was so important. From a Blackhawks perspective, the roster is primarily made up of “fillers,” meaning players who won’t be on the team long-term, like Perry and Foligno. Therefore, versatility was an important advantage for them. Since there are still questions about who gets the team out of training camp, potential losses in deadlines, and more as they try to make the team competitive again, it only makes sense that Donato would help guide the team and play where necessary. It is this kind of skill that endeared him to Seattle. This was stated by Dave Huxtol, head coach of the Kraken team Donato is a player he can trust and rely on No matter where in the lineup he is asked to play.
Related: Chicago Blackhawks sign Ryan Donato to a two-year contract
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Another thing to note about Donato that Blackhawks fans will love to hear is that he describes himself as someone who “tends to stir the pot a little bit” during games, bringing a fun Chicago-style element to the lineup. He is known for his speed, skill, and heart, which you can never get enough of in an NHL lineup. While he could play in the bottom six or six, I think he’ll play more in the bottom six in Chicago, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move up the lineup if the team needed that extra spark.
When speaking to our Kraken writer Adam Kirsenblatt about Donato’s time in Seattle, he said, “Ryan is a fantastic last-six forward with an offensive upside. He can contribute to power plays and is a versatile striker who can play either on the wing or on the wing. In general, he’s a hard-working forward who should help set a good example for the young players in the Chicago system.”
Players helping to develop prospects is Davidson’s thing Alluded to this off season, Which makes Donato’s fit with the team even more important on and off the ice.
Good guy on and off the ice
If you want to know more about the 27-year-old Donato from Massachusetts, he has a reputation for being an amazing person. Ironically, one of the most special moments of his career came against the Blackhawks. In January 2022, when the Blackhawks take on the Kraken, Donato He wore a tie to the match given to him by Emily Cave, Wife of late Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave. Cave and Donato became friends when they both played for the Bruins. The tie he got was Colby’s game-day equalizer. During the match, he scored the equalizer, a penalty shootout goal to help the Kraken win 3-2, and was named the first star of the game. Afterwards he said, “Yeah. I was wearing Kolb’s tie. He was my best friend. And Emily was here tonight. I think he was here with me today, too.”
To further detail him as a person, last season a story about Shane Wright, a top Kraken operative, came out. He mentioned last season that he wanted to stay with a veteran, as he was living in a hotel, and as a young player early in his career, he preferred living with someone. He stated that he had sent hints to his teammates that he would like to stay with them, and Donato stepped up and offered him his spare bedroom. He said the show was a no-brainer. Wright stated that he enjoyed living in a “real home with delicious home-cooked meals.” He also lived alongside fiancé Donato Bradley and their dog Moose (from “Kraken’s Shane Wright Gave His Home Away From Home By Colmate Ryan Donato”, Seattle Times11/7/22).
Related: Donato from Kraken shows once again how important he is
Little things like that go a long way with prospects and are definitely something the Blackhawks looked at when considering free signings.
Donato may not be a 50-point player, but he provides a solid, deep role and can consistently put together 20-point seasons, which is always welcome. I think he could quickly become a fan favorite due to his friendly nature and competitive play style. He will be a player to watch this season as he tries to help Chicago get back on track from the third worst NHL record last season.