RYAN DONATO - Center - 23 - $1.90MM Cap Hit - RFA in 2021-2022
LAST UPDATED 8/6/19
While Donato didn't quite live up to the incredible first impression he gave to Bruins fans in 2017-18, he did start to rekindle that magic as a member of the Minnesota Wild after being exchanged for Charlie Coyle. He had an impressive 16 points in 22 games on an offensively weak team, and looked like a future top-6 staple for Minnesota. That being said, for all the offensive upside Donato possesses, he's not without his flaws. Defensively, Donato lacks overall awareness and positioning skills. He too often gets caught in his own end, unable to process the game quick enough to read and react to what's unfolding before him and make a defensive impact. That lack of awareness carries onto his offensive game, where he's a naturally skilled player but isn't an elite self-starter. The constant pressure and suffocating nature of 5v5 play in the NHL hurts his ability to create chances, as he's not an elite skater or puck protector, causing him to struggle to create time and space with the puck. He's perfectly suited for powerplay situations, though, where he's got more space and less constant pressure, so he's better able to utilize his skill without a defender constantly planted on his tail trying to take the puck from him. As he gets bigger, older, and wiser, his ability to produce consistently at the NHL level should improve, but as of right now he's not a true top-end winger. If he can continue to develop and improve his on-ice awareness, he could get there sooner rather than later.
While Donato didn't quite live up to the incredible first impression he gave to Bruins fans in 2017-18, he did start to rekindle that magic as a member of the Minnesota Wild after being exchanged for Charlie Coyle. He had an impressive 16 points in 22 games on an offensively weak team, and looked like a future top-6 staple for Minnesota. That being said, for all the offensive upside Donato possesses, he's not without his flaws. Defensively, Donato lacks overall awareness and positioning skills. He too often gets caught in his own end, unable to process the game quick enough to read and react to what's unfolding before him and make a defensive impact. That lack of awareness carries onto his offensive game, where he's a naturally skilled player but isn't an elite self-starter. The constant pressure and suffocating nature of 5v5 play in the NHL hurts his ability to create chances, as he's not an elite skater or puck protector, causing him to struggle to create time and space with the puck. He's perfectly suited for powerplay situations, though, where he's got more space and less constant pressure, so he's better able to utilize his skill without a defender constantly planted on his tail trying to take the puck from him. As he gets bigger, older, and wiser, his ability to produce consistently at the NHL level should improve, but as of right now he's not a true top-end winger. If he can continue to develop and improve his on-ice awareness, he could get there sooner rather than later.
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