New Contract Changes Nothing for Ryan Donato

Last week, Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson checked off one of his biggest offseason tasks by signing forward Ryan Donato to a four-year, $16 million contract extension. The contract is the biggest one of his career, in terms of both years and money. The 29-year-old forward earned security with a career-high 31 goals and 62 points last season. Donato will remain a valuable part of this lineup, even with the recent infusion of youth. His versatility and style of play make him a favorite in the locker room and with the fan base.

Donato Happy with the Process

When Donato was still on the roster after the NHL trade deadline passed last March, many felt a new contract would follow quickly. Despite multiple reports of a three-year, $12 million offer on the table, the new agreement wasn’t reached until mid-June. Donato knew this was a process and is happy with how it ultimately turned out.

“I definitely thought we were close at the trade deadline, and then it didn’t work out,” he said. “We felt that we were going to talk again later, so we did. It took a little time, but I’m happy with the deal that got done. I’m excited to be back.”

With every passing day a new deal wasn’t signed, the rumors grew louder about Donato hitting the open market on July 1. However, Donato has consistently expressed how much he wanted to remain in Chicago, and that feeling was mutual. Becoming a free agent never felt like a real possibility.

“There are rumors and temptations of the free agency market, but for me, I love Chicago,” he said. “My wife loves Chicago. We had our first child there. I’ve enjoyed my time playing there. It seemed like a place that wanted me to be there. I’m a pretty loyal guy. The fact that they made it to the trade deadline and nothing happened shows me they are a team happy to have me back. Obviously, there was temptation, but I wanted to be a Blackhawk. I love my time here and didn’t want to change that unless I was forced to.”

Hard Work Pays Off, But Nothing Changes

Donato proves that players constantly evolve, and it’s never too late to improve on deficiencies. After the 2023-24 season, Donato was told he needed to work on his skating, and he put in the work. Those stats show what gaining a half step can do for a veteran forward. He is an excellent example for the Blackhawks’ young group that hard work gets rewarded.

After playing for five teams over eight seasons, Donato’s work ethic has given him security in the NHL for the first time.

“It’s super gratifying,” he admitted. “The wives and families go through a lot moving around. For me to finally have a place I can be at for a long time is awesome. The familiarity of coming back with the same people is very exciting. It creates stability for a guy trying to raise a family. We couldn’t be happier we’re coming back.”

Donato now has a 31-goal season under his belt and a long-term contract that keeps him in Chicago for four seasons. It’s only natural that the expectations have risen, leading to more pressure on him to perform. Will scoring 31 goals a season be the norm going forward? Probably not, but if his offensive production takes a huge dip next season, you can bet his contract will draw criticism. Donato feels no additional pressure after signing his new deal.

“I’ve always had confidence in what I can do,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the opportunities I’ve gotten here. With this opportunity, I can do a lot. This was a huge stepping-stone year for me. But, I also want to build off that. The contract is great, but I’m always about playing hockey. I’ll show up and prepare the same way. I’m just trying to raise my level again and try to help the team win games.”

Excitement for the New Season

Donato started his offseason training long before he put pen to paper. He’s already been to Tampa, FL, for skating drills. He will take once-a-month trips there and have multiple virtual video sessions. He will work more with Hall of Famer Adam Oates, whom he trained with last summer. After welcoming a daughter last October, the first-time father is also enjoying time with his young family.

New head coach Jeff Blashill reached out to all his players shortly after being hired. After their conversation, Donato said he’s excited to work with him. He knows Blashill is a well-respected coach and is “super passionate” about the job ahead.

Donato is happy to be reunited with his former teammate from the Seattle Kraken, Andre Burakovsky. He stressed the importance of adding players who have won the Stanley Cup to this young locker room.

“Burky is awesome,” he said with a smile. “He’s got special tools that you don’t see too often. He’s a big body who can shoot the puck and score, and create space and scoring opportunities. He’s a guy who can help the team win in a lot of different ways.”

This fall’s training camp will be full of young faces, some of whom might eventually take Donato’s job. The veteran forward is excited to see how much improvement the younger players have made. From his experience, he knows that seeing how difficult the league is first-hand is a real eye-opener. He hopes they can take those lessons into the summer and come back even better.

“There are a lot of young guys, so the competition will be great,” he said. “Having all these guys is a bright spot for the Blackhawks. They will push each other and learn from each other.”

Donato wanted to stay here, and the Blackhawks wanted him to be part of this next step. His work ethic is infectious, and he leads by example. He is a perfect fit for where the Blackhawks are in their rebuild.