Blackhawks’ Latest Hero May Have Just Played His Way Into A New Contract

When the Blackhawks took the ice on Saturday afternoon, all eyes were on the new top line. That’s because Chicago switched up that group, adding Ryan Donato next to Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev. No one could have predicted that development at the start of the season, but with five goals and an assist in five games, Donato deserved the promotion, and with scoring becoming a rarity, the Blackhawks needed him.

Though the first two periods of Saturday’s game were ugly, Donato was one of the better players on the ice. He spent the second-most time on the ice of any forward besides Connor Bedard, and put five shots on goal – two more than any other player. When the Blackhawks finally came back and forced overtime with a Tyler Bertuzzi goal, it was Donato picking up the assist.

But when the Blackhawks eventually took the game to a shootout, Donato converted on perhaps the biggest chance of the season for his team. With the game on his stick, the 28-year-old made a beautiful move to close out the shootout and give his team two points in the standings.

When Donato entered the season, both he and the team likely assumed that it would be his last season in a Blackhawks sweater. After signing a two-year, $4 million deal as a free agent in the summer of 2023, Donato was solid last season, with 30 points in 78 games.

At the start of this season, Donato picked up one goal in his first three games. But with Chicago being held to a higher standard this season thanks to its offseason additions, his performance wasn’t quite good enough. He was sat down for two games in the middle of October.

When that happened, Donato clearly got the message. Since returning to the lineup, he’s been nothing short of spectacular, putting up a point in all but two games, including a three-point night.

So what happens if Donato continues this production? He’s still only 28, so it’s not out of the question that he could continue to produce at a level we haven’t seen out of him before. If he is able to extend this hot run, it would be difficult to imagine Chicago not signing him to an extension.

If anyone has reasons to not be resigned, it would be Donato. For starters, Donato doesn’t exactly fit Chicago’s championship timeline. It’s clear that the Blackhawks aren’t yet ready to be contenders, and by the time their talent in the pipeline is fully developed, Donato’s game will likely be regressing. Additionally, the Blackhawks may be eyeing a trade when the deadline rolls around, especially if Donato’s stock is as high as it is right now.

But given the Blackhawks’ clear inability to score at the moment, it would be hard for them to see Donato’s production and not keep him around for another year or two. He won’t be signing a big four or six-year deal, but his presence would certainly be helpful in ushering in the new era. He’s been the biggest surprise of the season, and Saturday’s heroics only further proved that the Blackhawks might need him to stay around.