A lot can change in one season. Just ask Ryan Donato.
A season ago, Donato was a journeyman veteran and a role player. The Chicago Blackhawks were his fifth NHL team, and he was likely heading to his sixth team once his two-year contract with the Blackhawks expired. In his first year with the Blackhawks, his play was comparable to most of his career, and he was seen as a short-term roster player. He wasn’t expected to be in Chicago any longer than his deal.
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But then Donato changed all that. He dedicated last offseason to improving his skating, broke out for a career-high 31 goals, surpassing his previous best by 15 goals, and altered his future. Instead of hitting free agency and signing another short-term contract with a similar cap hit as years past, Donato has finally landed team and financial stability. On Wednesday, Donato re-signed with the Blackhawks on a four-year contract with a $4 million cap hit.
FOUR MORE YEARS OF RYAN DONATO‼️
📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/dmJ0ENjlc0 pic.twitter.com/cScsQdCZJo
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 18, 2025
Donato’s signing marks a major piece of general manager Kyle Davidson’s offseason. With the Blackhawks expected to prioritize their young players next season, Davidson wasn’t likely to add many established NHL players this offseason. If Donato had opted to test free agency, Davidson would have needed at least to replace him through a signing or trade. With Donato returning and potentially filling a top-six role again, the Blackhawks don’t feel as much pressure to add this offseason. They may still do something, but Donato’s signing was near the top.
Donato, of course, still has to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. It’s understandable why there would be some skepticism around his production last season. He was in a contract year, and you don’t often see 29-year-olds go from scoring around 12-16 goals to become 30-goal scorers. Donato does believe he unlocked something with his skating, and his play is repeatable.
How Donato was used last season did help facilitate some of his scoring opportunities, as he often played on the top line and the Blackhawks’ top power-play unit. Donato was Connor Bedard’s most consistent linemate last season as they played 420:55 of five-on-five ice together. With the investment the Blackhawks just made in Donato and familiarity with his game, he’ll likely be placed in similar situations next season.
Donato is likely the Blackhawks’ only pending unrestricted free agent they will re-sign. The Blackhawks do have pending restricted free agents they’re expected to extend.
(Photo: James Guillory /USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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