Forward Ryan Donato has re-signed with Chicago. The deal is a four-year, $16 million contract at $4 million AAV.

Donato’s Blackhawks tenure

Donato signed his first Blackhawks contract in the summer of 2023, signing a two-year, $4 million contract at $2 million AAV. In his first season with the club, Donato notched 12 goals and 18 assists in 78 games during the 2023–24 season.

His second season with the club was a breakout for Donato. With 31 goals and 31 assists in 80 games, Donato logged career highs across the board. He led the team in goals and finished second on the team in points.

In two seasons, Donato played 158 out of a possible 164 games. In that time, Donato has scored 43 goals and recorded 49 assists.

Analysis

It was clear since the trade deadline how much the Blackhawks valued Donato. After refusing to trade him, re-signing Donato became a priority for Chicago.

The key for Chicago was to not become desperate in negotiations. With a massive amount of cap space, and many young skaters finishing their entry-level contracts soon, every dollar was important.

The key for Donato was a place to stay. Donato and his agent emphasized wanting to find his hockey home.

With this contract, both sides come out a winner. Chicago kept a productive middle-six forward who, although he may not replicate his previous season’s output, should continue to produce at his contract value. Donato got the term he was looking for, along with a pay raise from his previous deal.

With no more unrestricted free agents left to sign, Chicago can now spend the rest of the offseason preparing for the draft, prioritizing their restricted free agents and writing up offers for potential additions beginning July 1.

The post BREAKING: Ryan Donato re-signs with Blackhawks appeared first on The Rink.

The Hawks had finally broken through offensively and were hoping to build upon that production.

1st period

In the first period, the Hawks got out to the early lead. Ryan Donato potted his ninth goal of the season.

Ryan Donato scores his ninth goal of the season — eighth on the road. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/LOFVWSdY8n

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 29, 2024

The Hawks finished the first period up 1–0. The Wild did outshoot the Blackhawks 8–4 in the period.

2nd period

Early in the second period, Donato scored the power-play for his tenth goal of the season.

Ryan Donato scores on the power play for his second of the game and 10th of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/bh5vdOXsKu

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 29, 2024

With the Blackhawks up 2–0 in the second, the Wild responded in a big way. The Wild fired two goals past Petr Mrazek in 17 seconds. Marco Rossi scored his seventh of the season for Minnesota’s first goal. Jared Spurgeon then ended his goal drought with his first goal of the season.

Later in the period, Mrazek had a rare miscue that led to the second Spurgeon goal of the period. This goal turned out to be the game-winner.

3rd period

The Hawks tried to come back in the third period with Donato failing to score on a great chance. After some very questionable calls, the Hawks fell to the Wild 3–2.

Analysis

Despite losing this game, there were some positives for the Hawks. Connor Bedard appears to be feeling more confident since breaking his goal-less streak against Dallas. He recorded one assist and was very noticeable on offense. He is still the best offensive producer on the Blackhawks.

Donato continues his impressive season recording two goals for his ninth and tenth goals of the season. Last season with the Hawks, he had 12 goals and 18 assists and is on pace to eclipse to goal mark. Donato’s hot start and expiring contract could make him an attractive trade chip at the deadline.

On the goalie front, Mrazek who has been very good for the Hawks, had a bad second period that ultimately cost them the game. Despite botching this game, the tandem of Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom are keeping the Hawks in the majority of their games.

In other Hawks news, Laurent Brossoit will be out another six weeks after requiring a second surgery to fix his knee. Soderblom will not be waiver-exempt by the team Brossoit is ready to return so expect a goalie logjam on the Hawks in the future.

The Hawks next game is Sunday, December 1st against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center. For those of who can watch the game, it will be on CHSN at 3:00pm CDT.

The post Chicago Blackhawks fall to The Minnesota Wild 3-2 appeared first on The Rink.

The Seattle Kraken jerseys were released to the public on Sept. 15. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Signings

— The Kraken announced the signing of Ryan Donato, an unrestricted free agent from the San Jose Sharks, to a one-year deal worth $750,000. Donato was initially a restricted free agent that the Sharks declined to offer a qualifying offer to, sending him to the UFA pool as a result.

The 6-foot, 192-pound, 25-year-old lefthanded center has appeared in 185 NHL games since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft (56th overall) by the Boston Bruins. He played in 50 games with the Sharks last season, accruing 20 points (six goal, 14 assists).

Donato could help shore up the Kraken’s center depth, which is notably shallow.

— CBS Sports reported late yesterday that the Kraken signed veteran left wing Scott Wilson to a professional tryout contract.

Wilson is a 29-year-old fringe player who was in the Florida Panthers organization last season, but did not appear in a game. His last NHL game was in 2019–20 with the Buffalo Sabres.

With training camp starting soon, the Kraken Hostile Seattle Rinkcast will be hitting the airwaves in the coming days.

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