Maybe someone else can explain it to you?
ok let me break it down for you.
Donato played with
DeBrusk Krejci Donato.
That didn't go very well. Donato was having a tough time playing against better competition. Totally fair for a guy just out of college. He was trying to learn the 200 ft game on the fly. He was pensive and over thinking it. He was bad defensively and then he was bad offensively because of it.
So they moved him to the 3rd line. Which generally has been a disaster for Boston all year.
The 3rd line continued to be a disaster with Donato on it. It was actually worse.
It was a disaster because the Bruins were playing rookie centers with David Backes. The rookie centers could not drive possession and Backes was 4 steps behind. Donato made it worse with his poor puck possession game.
Getting a solid two way puck control guy like Coyle allowed that line to cycle (still something Backes can do) and keep possession and at least not get run out of the building.
Nordstrom/Cehlarik Coyle Backes still are not scoring... but they are surviving and posting positive CF% and you don't have to hide them.
Donato on that line wasn't a difference maker. The line didn't score AND it suffered from Donato's defense and lack of puck possession game. Donato may be a better all around player than Nordstrom. Or Backes. But, on that line
in that role with so little help he was worse. Honestly, far far worse.
Hopefully, when Pasta comes back, the Bruins can put together a 3rd line with at least two quality top 9 people on it for the first time this year. Maybe in an ideal world Donato could have been one of those people. Maybe. That was the plan coming into the season. But, it didn't look like he was going to be ready this year at any point in the NHL OR even in the AHL this year. I'm super bummed Donato is gone. But, again, the Bruins have Marchand and DeBrusk FAR FAR FAR FAR ahead of him. Heinen, another left shot wing, is the same age and is a far more complete player today. Bjork, yes another left shot wing, is right at the same level as Donato as a prospect. Bruins have plenty of young left shot wings. What they don't have is a whole lot of years of Bergeron or middle six centers or middle six right wings. The Wild wanted a prospect we didn't want to give up, but one we could. Thats how trades work.
Its hilarious to me how you think you can know more about the make up of someone else team.