Ryan Donato celebrated an impressive milestone recently, holding four pucks in his right hand to signify his personal best of four points in a single game. This came during what has turned out to be a standout season for the 28-year-old forward, who has achieved a career-high with 19 goals and a total of 37 points over 53 games. However, this could potentially mark one of his final outings with the Chicago Blackhawks as the team is currently facing challenges.
As the Blackhawks take a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Donato finds himself in a complex situation as a valuable trade asset ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. Interim coach Anders Sorensen praised Donato’s commitment, noting his regular presence at the rink, attention to personal preparation, as well as his ability to communicate important messages among teammates on the ice and in the locker room.
Donato’s contract with the Blackhawks, a two-year deal worth $4 million that he signed in 2023, makes him eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season. When asked how he manages to maintain focus amidst trade speculation, Donato refrained from overthinking the situation, opting instead to focus on his love for the game. “We have the best jobs in the world, right? We’re NHL hockey players,” he stated, emphasizing his belief in a larger plan.
Having played for five different NHL teams and originating from Boston, Donato presents a dilemma for Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. With a disappointing record of 17-31-7, placing them as one of the league’s underperformers, Donato’s skills as an experienced forward and penalty killer could entice a playoff-bound team to secure his services. Such a move could also yield a prospect that would bolster Chicago’s player development pipeline.
Nonetheless, Donato’s adaptability and tireless work ethic serve as a guiding example for the Blackhawks’ younger players, and he has demonstrated strong chemistry, particularly with rising star Connor Bedard. Retaining Donato may provide more immediate value to the team compared to any potential draft picks acquired through a trade, leading to the possibility of contract negotiations to extend his stay with Chicago.
Fellow teammate Frank Nazar praised Donato for his relentless spirit saying, “He works his tail off and he’s always going, so just being able to see that competitive side pay off and how that works at this level is really awesome.” Despite the struggles of the season, Donato maintains hope that he is contributing to a positive team culture.
“I want to do the right things, be a mentor for some of the younger guys,” he explained. Acknowledging the difficult nature of consistently losing games, he emphasized the importance of leadership within the team and recognized the strength of the camaraderie among his teammates.
Throughout his career, Donato has shown consistency, posting no fewer than 27 points in each of the last three seasons, including a solid first year with the Blackhawks where he recorded 12 goals and 18 assists. His dedication to improving his skating over the summer appears to be proving useful as he has excelled on the ice recently, tallying six goals and seven assists in his last 10 games, bringing his career total to 202 points. In a recent game against Nashville, he scored two goals and provided two assists during a resounding 6-2 victory, which he commemorated with a celebratory photo. He continued his scoring streak with another goal during a closely contested 6-5 shootout loss at St. Louis.
“He’s awesome right now,” defenseman Seth Jones remarked after the victory over Nashville, acknowledging Donato’s consistently hard work and the well-deserved rewards that come from it. “He always has that work ethic, and that’s where his game really stems from.”
