The former Minnesota Wild forward, Ryan Donato, is off to a terrific start for the Chicago Blackhawks this season.
Donato, 28, leads the Hawks in goals with seven and is second on the team in points with nine in 11 games. In 78 games last year for the Hawks Donato had 12 goals and 30 points.
He spent two years in Minnesota where he scored 18 goals in 84 games and notched 39 points. Donato was acquired from the Boston Bruins for Charlie Coyle.
After he was acquired during in the 2018-19 season, Donato had four goals and 16 points in 22 games. He played in the Wild’s top six and averaged 15 minutes and 33 second of ice time.
The following season, Donato was demoted and spent most, if not all, of the season in the bottom six. He averaged just a hair over ten minutes a night in 62 games for Minnesota.
Yet he recorded 14 goals and 23 points that season and was tied for first on the Wild in 5v5 goals with Eric Staal and Kevin Fiala. Despite this, the Wild traded him to the San Jose Sharks for a 3rd-round pick in 2021 NHL Draft.
That pick was eventually traded by the Wild along with the Wild’s first-round pick (22nd) to the Edmonton Oilers for their first-round pick (20th). The Wild selected Jesper Wallstedt with pick No. 20.
So the Wild essentially got Wallstedt and 84 games of Donato for Charlie Coyle.
Nonetheless, Donato is off to a fast start in Chicago. He is on pace for 51 goals, 15 assists, and 66 points in 80 games. Only Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander have more 5v5 goals than Donato this year.
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