During Ryan Donato’s first two years in Chicago, he couldn’t afford to think long-term about the Blackhawks‘ future, because he didn’t know if he would be around for it. He had no choice but to focus on the present, which wasn’t exactly cheerful.
The four-year contract Donato signed this past summer, however, not only changed his personal financial outlook — in addition to allowing his family to settle down in the city — but also changed his perspective on the franchise.
Now he can afford to think about its long-term future.
“You never know how long it’ll take to become a team that’s competing every single night and has a chance to win,” Donato said Tuesday. “Looking toward the future here, there’s a lot of great prospects coming in, and things are only going to grow and get better. It’s super exciting, and I’m happy I’m going to be a part of it.”
Donato doesn’t follow prospect updates too closely, but he does receive college-hockey updates from his dad Ted (Harvard’s head coach) and AHL updates from young teammates who recently spent time in Rockford.
Considering the Hawks’ pipeline currently features the leading goal-scorer in the KHL (Roman Kantserov), the leading goal-scorer in the OHL (Marek Vanacker), the leading rookie point-scorer in the AHL (Nick Lardis) and the leading goal-scorer among teenagers in the SHL (Anton Frondell), it would be impossible to avoid hearing some buzz.
Ironically, as soon as Donato could afford to look long-term, the Hawks’ short-term situation also improved. But he certainly isn’t upset about that.
Everyone in the locker room has thoroughly enjoyed the progress they’ve made this fall, caveats about small sample sizes aside. By somehow earning one point from a poor performance Wednesday against the Devils, they maintained hold of a playoff spot for now.
“There were times last year…where we would be up in a game, and we would find a way to not finish it out,” Donato said. “This year, guys are fed up with that. I don’t think guys wanted to just sit there and take it anymore.
“We have young guys that are taking steps and maturing and realizing how hard it is to win in this league. They want to do it now; they don’t want to wait. They realize, once you get a taste, how fun the team can be when things are going well.”
Plus, even if Donato can feel confident he’ll still be a Hawk in, say, the 2027-28 season, he doesn’t see much point in dedicating more than a passing thought to that.
He believes players are wisest leaving that macro-level planning to coaches and managers and instead focusing on their own tasks at hand. And right now, the tasks at hand are being consistently accomplished, which is rewarding.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of room to grow, too,” he added. “There are a lot of teams that are a lot more successful than us, that are doing it every night. But comparatively to the last couple seasons, [this season is] definitely…a bright spot.”
As for Donato himself, he seems to be proving his sudden, mid-career offensive breakout of 62 points last season wasn’t a total fluke. He has 11 points in 17 games, putting him on pace for a respectable 53 points this season even after going seven straight games without a goal.
Coach Jeff Blashill pointed out Donato started the season playing wing before recently shifting over to third-line center during Jason Dickinson’s injury absence.
At both positions, Donato has been steady and effective. The Hawks have outscored opponents 11-8 during his five-on-five ice time, and his 48.6% scoring-chance ratio ranks third among team forwards.
“I think [Donato] has handled it well,” Blashill said. “Just like the rest of the team, he’s getting more comfortable with the systems, and that allows him to play a little bit freer.”