Player Discussion Ryan Donato

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Remember it like it was yesterday. A young Janney and Joyce coming in late season back in '88 and having a major impact down the stretch and deep into the playoffs.

Wishful thinking, but hopefully Donato is a great enough talent that he becomes a major depth factor.

joe Juneau is the one for me... arriving in 1992 for 14 games after a season with the Canadian national team. Juneau had 19 points... and another 12 in 15 playoff games.

he was 24 as a rookie... but he stepped right into the top line with oates/neely

Juneau didn't have a long career here but it was all good. I will be hoping donato can repeat

 

[Mainehockey33]

Love it. About burning a year; If Sweeney thinks he can help out this year, then go for it. The cup should be the main focus right now and bringing Donato into the fold is like what they did with Mcavoy last year. Let’s hope Donato has that same impact.

 

[Gee Wally]

He should take 16 and establish his own identity. Thats what Id tell my boy to do anyway.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Love it. About burning a year; If Sweeney thinks he can help out this year, then go for it. The cup should be the main focus right now and bringing Donato into the fold is like what they did with Mcavoy last year. Let’s hope Donato has that same impact.

Did the Bruins really plan on using McAvoy last season though? I thought he was only called up because the Bruins got destroyed with injuries. I'll definitely hope/pray for a similar impact, but I won't be expecting it. That said, I could see him helping out a bit. Exciting, regardless.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Obviously he needs time to get acclimated but for those who haven’t seen him play ( me ) what can we expect from Donato ? What is his skill set ?

 

[northeastern]

Good. Kids awesome burn a year whatever it takes glad hes signed

 

[Bruinaura]

With the news Backes will be out the next few games, I'd assume Donato slides to LW with Wingels and Gionta? MAYBE he moves up with Krejci and Nash if Cassidy wants to give it different looks.

I don't think there's a look Cassidy hasn't had to try this year. He can probably fit anywhere.

 

[LouJersey]

joe Juneau is the one for me... arriving in 1992 for 14 games after a season with the Canadian national team. Juneau had 19 points... and another 12 in 15 playoff games.

he was 24 as a rookie... but he stepped right into the top line with oates/neely

Juneau didn't have a long career here but it was all good. I will be hoping donato can repeat

Janney and Joyce for me. They played with Neely and were one of my most favorite lines ever.

 

[sarge88]

Obviously he needs time to get acclimated but for those who haven’t seen him play ( me ) what can we expect from Donato ? What is his skill set ?

I’m not an astute talent evaluator.....but one thing I did notice is that he seems to get his shot off quickly and accurately.

 

[Kate08]

joe Juneau is the one for me... arriving in 1992 for 14 games after a season with the Canadian national team. Juneau had 19 points... and another 12 in 15 playoff games.

he was 24 as a rookie... but he stepped right into the top line with oates/neely

Juneau didn't have a long career here but it was all good. I will be hoping donato can repeat

Luckily for a young Kate, Juneau arrived as I was learning the state capitals in school.

Guess who never made the mistake to name Anchorage as the capital of Alaska?

Thanks Joe!

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

 

[Absurdity]

 

[Bread and Circuses]

Probably playing tomorrow, eh?

Cool.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Did the Bruins really plan on using McAvoy last season though? I thought he was only called up because the Bruins got destroyed with injuries. I'll definitely hope/pray for a similar impact, but I won't be expecting it. That said, I could see him helping out a bit. Exciting, regardless.

They didn’t plan on Mcavoy, but they didn’t hesitate to call him up over other options in Providence. Donato is different because he’s coming right into the fold, but they know what he did in college and the Olympics this year so they’re bringing him right to Boston. I don’t know if he’ll make a huge difference, but it doesn’t hurt to add more young talent to the fold.

 

[Bruinaura]

Bergeron played wing his rookie year. That worked out pretty well.

Tomorrow's game ought to be interesting.

Pierre just mentioned the signing during the Chicago game. (Who didn't see that coming...) Said Tony Granato said Donato is "ready to take the next step."

 

[Bruinaura]

They didn’t plan on Mcavoy, but they didn’t hesitate to call him up over other options in Providence. Donato is different because he’s coming right into the fold, but they know what he did in college and the Olympics this year so they’re bringing him right to Boston. I don’t know if he’ll make a huge difference, but it doesn’t hurt to add more young talent to the fold.

Yeah, there has to be some benefit to him having played locally. Easy to keep up with how he's doing.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

Wow excellent news.

If we burn a year and play him this week does that mean that we can theoretically sign him to an extension this summer since he'll only be a year away from RFA?

That is what I'd do.

 

[crimsonace]

Remember it like it was yesterday. A young Janney and Joyce coming in late season back in '88 and having a major impact down the stretch and deep into the playoffs.

Wishful thinking, but hopefully Donato is a great enough talent that he becomes a major depth factor.

The Joyce-Janney-Neely line was unreal good in the 1988 run to the Cup Final. They were the X factor that put the B's over the top to finally get past Montreal and then get through New Jersey.

 

[crimsonace]

For me, there's a simple reason to not burn a year on his ELC and just stick with an ATO in Providence. Not only do you get an extra year on the cheap ELC, you don't have to protect him for the expansion draft in 2020, since he'll only have 2 years of professional service time.

Donato's agent may push for them to burn an ELC year to sign him now, but if I'm Sweeney I'm pushing back on that as hard as possible.

The problem with this is that Donato could have been a UFA within 30 days of turning pro due to his age. He basically holds all of the cards, and the B's have to meet his terms to keep him from becoming a UFA. He's a special talent who can be a difference-maker for a team that has Cup aspirations, you do what you can to get him in the fold.

 

[Montecristo]

I say heinen goes back to line 3 and donato takes his spot vs Columbus. I’m not banishing heinen. I’m just trying to give him a wake up call. I understand he has had a great season but 1 point in 11 games and 2 in 17 or something won’t cut it. See if donato sparks the 2nd line with debrusk out.
Marchand-Bergeron(is he back??)- pasta
Donato-krejci-Nash
Heinen-Nash-backes (is he good to go??)
Schaller-kuraly-wingels
Acciari
That’s the forwards for me until debrusk is ready. Then it gets a little trickier. Maybe just flip donato and heinen between lines 2 and 3 game to game while debrusk is out and whoever is better has the job? Tough call. Heinen had a great first 60% of the season and you’d hate to banish him to 9 for a rookie but if donato outplays him the final 10-12 games I think I would even in the playoffs until donato screws up or debrusk. The way I see it; 2 of those 3 will play and one won’t. I’m rooting for heinen and debrusk but if donato out plays either I’d give them their job (at least on a temporary basis)

 

[Montecristo]

joe Juneau is the one for me... arriving in 1992 for 14 games after a season with the Canadian national team. Juneau had 19 points... and another 12 in 15 playoff games.

he was 24 as a rookie... but he stepped right into the top line with oates/neely

Juneau didn't have a long career here but it was all good. I will be hoping donato can repeat

He had a sick mullet

 

[DKH]

I think Donato can bring more than Heinen is bringing right now. And thus I'd play him over Danton. I truly believe the kid can make an impact. I'd do it without blinking. But that's just me.

I thought Heinen was pretty good last 2 games - great decisions with the puck

 

[smack66]

Anxious to see where he slots in tomorrow

 

[DrJustice]

I say heinen goes back to line 3 and donato takes his spot vs Columbus. I’m not banishing heinen. I’m just trying to give him a wake up call. I understand he has had a great season but 1 point in 11 games and 2 in 17 or something won’t cut it. See if donato sparks the 2nd line with debrusk out.
Marchand-Bergeron(is he back??)- pasta
Donato-krejci-Nash
Heinen-Nash-backes (is he good to go??)
Schaller-kuraly-wingels
Acciari
That’s the forwards for me until debrusk is ready. Then it gets a little trickier. Maybe just flip donato and heinen between lines 2 and 3 game to game while debrusk is out and whoever is better has the job? Tough call. Heinen had a great first 60% of the season and you’d hate to banish him to 9 for a rookie but if donato outplays him the final 10-12 games I think I would even in the playoffs until donato screws up or debrusk. The way I see it; 2 of those 3 will play and one won’t. I’m rooting for heinen and debrusk but if donato out plays either I’d give them their job (at least on a temporary basis)

I agree with you, I'd try to maximize his opportunity until DeBrusk is ready to come back. If the Bruins really wanna see what they have in Donato, playing with Wingles and Gionta on the 3rd line isn't ideal. Heinen has played well up and down the lineup so I don't he'd have an issues.

Marchand-Nash-Pastrnak
Donato-Krejci-Nash
Heinen-Wingles-Gionta
Schaller-Kuraly-Acciari

 

[Bruinaura]

Anxious to see where he slots in tomorrow

Joe McDonald thinks he will be 3C with Riley going back to the top line with Backes out