The Chicago Blackhawks missed their opportunity to get the most out of Ryan Donato last season when he was a pending UFA, signed at $4 million AAV, and had no trade protection. Donato exploded last season for 31 goals and 62 points, doubling his previous career highs at age 28.
The Blackhawks waited until June 18 to extend him, so it was a risky move, and he is now signed for four years at $4 million AAV with a 10-team no-trade list. It makes it a little tougher to now move on from Donato.
Chicago should've traded Donato last season for a number of reasons. He had to work at it to prove he belonged in the top-6 with the great season he had, but he played nearly 16.5 minutes per game and was a massive offensive producer for the Blackhawks. There are more options this season, including Andre Burakovsky, a full time Frank Nazar, and prospects. Space is limited and Donato is a third line player now.
Donato's production dipped as expected and he's sitting at 11 goals and 21 points in 55 games. While he'll likely end with more offense than any of his other seasons prior to last season, he's not going to be the producer he was last season again, and Kyle Davidson knew that. While I think that's why it took so long to sign Donato, some of the pressure was also on the Blackhawks to not let Donato walk in free agency after not trading him at the deadline while Chicago was a clear seller.
Donato deserved the contract he got after his 2024-25 season, but he could've gotten it elsewhere as well due to recency bias and teams seeing what he could do as a Swiss army knife and while given a chance.
Now, while Donato is still on the team, Nick Lardis is back in the AHL, Oliver Moore hasn't played every game and is on the fourth line, Colton Dach is a healthy scratch, and prospects like Anton Frondell and Marek Vanacker will see NHL time next season.
The Blackhawks can't not trade him now, but would be much tougher with his contract and production where it is now. He's a bottom-6 player with the ability to jump up, but the Blackhawks don't necessarily need that and space will be lacking soon enough. I don't see Donato's contract completing in Chicago, but that's something we'll have to wait and see on.
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