Former Bruins Ryan Donato - II

[BruinDust]

Yeah, it's a head scratcher how this organization always wants to change how a player plays. I used to think it was just Claude, but it's clearly not. If you drafted a guy because he has a high skill level or they think he can score, why are you trying to make him a Selke caliber player before you bring him up? It makes no sense.

It doesn't.

Maybe it explains why they seem to be quite good at developing D-men, but seem to be pretty lousy at developing forwards with any sort of offensive talent. Like you, I thought it was Claude but seems the problem runs deeper than that.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

Okay. But in defense of the young guys as a collective whole, shouldn't the team be seeing more from their best players/veteran players instead of counting on young guys to step up? To that point, Marchand needs to score goals, but he's not. Pasta has gone cold compared to his usual level since Bergeron has been out. Krejci has been getting helpers, but he's on pace to score like 6 or 7 goals this year. That's not acceptable for any of those guys, is it?

In a time like this where the team is being decimated by injuries to key players, your best players need to be your best players. Krejci hasn't scored a goal since October and hasn't had a point in his last 4 games. Marchand has 1 goal in his last 10 games. Pasta has 2 goals in his last 9 games and both came in one game. Those long stretches of non production are far more valid reasons for this team not being able to score 2 goals per night than because Donato didn't throw a body check or failed to score, no?

Yes, they all need to do better. Every player, really. Donato should have thrown a check or something there. That doesn't mean anything more than that. People are annoyed with this whole team, rightfully.

 

[LSCII]

Yes, they all need to do better. Every player, really. Donato should have thrown a check or something there. That doesn't mean anything more than that. People are annoyed with this whole team, rightfully.

See, I'm frustrated by the lack of scoring, especially from the key players I expect more from, but I get the injuries have been the real cause of this dip. And yes, Donato could have thrown a hit, but to me, Krug not doing anything other than a turnstile impression was the really egregious part of that play. He was the safety valve in case the forward didn't make the play and instead of doing his job he waved at the dude as he blew past him.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

See, I'm frustrated by the lack of scoring, especially from the key players I expect more from, but I get the injuries have been the real cause of this dip. And yes, Donato could have thrown a hit, but to me, Krug not doing anything other than a turnstile impression was the really egregious part of that play. He was the safety valve in case the forward didn't make the play and instead of doing his job he waved at the dude as he blew past him.

Yes, it'll be very nice WHEN (not if... that type of slip up can cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by) we get most of our defense and Bergeron back. Injuries have clearly paid a part.

Call me crazy but I still think Donato will be a 2nd line regular.

 

[TCB]

Well that's what he did at Harvard....I had hopes that he would "get it" and develop a two way game but I'm having doubts now.

Well, I guess there's still time for him.

I think maybe a longer stint down in the A. He has a lethal shot and knows how to find those soft spots for scoring chances which got him through college but he most diffidently needs to find more of an edge and learn how to go into those dirty areas to become successful in the NHL Hopefully in time he will, sooner than later.

 

[Estlin]

It's like the whole Zach Senyshyn debate. He's drafted to be a goal-scorer, becomes a goal-scorer in junior. But yet he goes to Providence and plays on the 3rd and 4th lines because it's all part of "the plan" for him and develop his vaunted 200 ft game. Why are they trying to make him something he's not? Why not try to make what got him to the dance, putting the puck past the goaltender, better? Put him in a position to use his natural ability, not try to make him a 3rd line two-way winger.

Sometimes it's not just the fans expectations. I think the expectations of management and coaches in Boston are a bit out to lunch.

Yeah, it's a head scratcher how this organization always wants to change how a player plays. I used to think it was just Claude, but it's clearly not. If you drafted a guy because he has a high skill level or they think he can score, why are you trying to make him a Selke caliber player before you bring him up? It makes no sense.

Boston could definitely stand to have a couple of forwards who are focused on offense. Let the likes of Senyshyn and Donato use their strengths and concentrate on putting the puck in the net. The two-way play can come from linemates. It's worked for the teams that have had Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane, for example.

 

[JCRO]

Boston could definitely stand to have a couple of forwards who are focused on offense. Let the likes of Senyshyn and Donato use their strengths and concentrate on putting the puck in the net. The two-way play can come from linemates. It's worked for the teams that have had Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane, for example.

I wont say I completely agree with this line of thinking. Don't disagree either.

But you did leave out Pasta who I believe falls under this. Playing with Bergy (and Marchy) has really allowed his offensive game to break out all while being protected by two of the best two way players in the game.

 

[compan]

Boston could definitely stand to have a couple of forwards who are focused on offense. Let the likes of Senyshyn and Donato use their strengths and concentrate on putting the puck in the net. The two-way play can come from linemates. It's worked for the teams that have had Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane, for example.

They want 12 varying degrees of Bergeron on offense.

But sometimes square pegs dont fit into round holes.

 

[ODAAT]

the kid played like every Bruin last night, awful

 

[Dizzay]

Donato needs an entire year in providence, hes not an NHL player at this point, much like Bjork, Heinen, JFK etc

 

[NMF]

Ryan Donato is not an NHL Level skater. His skating is so far off from being an NHL and it gives the perception that he is lazy and/or weak. He just can't skate. Skating exposes players and that's what we are seeing here. He has hands good hands and a NHL shot, but in today's game, he will be unsuccessful. 15 years ago he's Glenn Murray.

 

[elMatador]

Heinen isn't an NHL player? Haha.... He's struggling to produce, but laughable to say he's not an NHLer. Also, forever triggered. I love it

On a contending team he would have no chance for a top9 spot. So he would fight for a 4th line duty. Currently he would be not an effective even as a 4th liner. So yes, Heinen right now should join Bjork, Donato, JFK.

 

[smack66]

I'm upset with all the upset people.

 

[Over the volcano]

I'm upset with all the upset people.

That upsets me

On the other hand Donato looks pretty good - a lot to learn still but he’s certainly still young and by all accounts coachable

 

[Mainehockey33]

It is cheap, but back in the 90s, 80s, and earlier, it was acceptable to do it. Guys that wanted to sit in front for a tip had to fight and earn that spot. That real estate came at a premium, and even when you got there, you got slashed, hacked, and cross checked the whole time. All with no calls. It was a far heavier, more physical game back then. I'd say guys like Donato would never have made it let alone survive in that kind of environment.

Guys like Donato and Bjork have a hard enough time in today’s NHL, they would’ve gotten murdered back then I’m sure. I still think there is room in the game for Horton and Lucic types but they’re a rare breed.

As for Donato, he’s on the 2nd line because the team desperately needs guys that can score goals and he’s shown that ability. I think they need to completely overhaul the bottom 6 and call up Cehlarik, Frederic and maybe even Senyshyn. You need to surround these soft players with bigger guys or else they won’t be that effective.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Yes, they all need to do better. Every player, really. Donato should have thrown a check or something there. That doesn't mean anything more than that. People are annoyed with this whole team, rightfully.

The problem is that this isn't just one play with Donato. He's not an NHL caliber player on the defensive side of the puck, and unfortunately, the game isn't set up so you can only play him in the offensive end and in the shootout.

IMO, he should have spent a full year in PRO like DeBrusk and Heinen.

 

[NDiesel]

Boston could definitely stand to have a couple of forwards who are focused on offense. Let the likes of Senyshyn and Donato use their strengths and concentrate on putting the puck in the net. The two-way play can come from linemates. It's worked for the teams that have had Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane, for example.

I don't disagree that they could use some offense first guys, but Donato for example has been invisible to me this year. He is dangerous enough to score on the few chances he gets, but otherwise I rarely notice him even if I spend the entire game watching for him.

They have too many mid-level prospects IMO and not really anyone (now that Charlie and Pasta are full timers) with top potential. I get that that's generally what happens when you contend or are a borderline playoff team without top picks, but as each year passes I am shifting more from the "Let's see what Zboril/Debrusk/Seny turn into" crowd into the "We really f***ed up our future with those 3 picks"

 

[roflstomper]

The problem is that this isn't just one play with Donato. He's not an NHL caliber player on the defensive side of the puck, and unfortunately, the game isn't set up so you can only play him in the offensive end and in the shootout.

IMO, he should have spent a full year in PRO like DeBrusk and Heinen.

If we were healthy I don't think he sees the roster. This is kind of out of necessity at this point. I have a feeling that management/Cassidy would really have liked the luxury of having Bjork/Donato/JFK all having played a full year in Providence this year especially when none of them showed anything in camp. They would have been left down there to develop and we would've rented a player or two to fill holes. I refuse to believe management actually though any of those guys were ready to step in and play meaningful minutes this year.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

The problem is that this isn't just one play with Donato. He's not an NHL caliber player on the defensive side of the puck, and unfortunately, the game isn't set up so you can only play him in the offensive end and in the shootout.

IMO, he should have spent a full year in PRO like DeBrusk and Heinen.

I was actually ecstatic with Ryan Donato’s first game back. He was making defensive plays. It actually seemed somewhat effortless.

Now, he’s back to regular Ryan Donato just coasting around waiting for the perfect feed. I.e. once again waiting for everyone else to do the work so he can hopefully get a great look on a shot.

One of the things I noticed in his post-game interview after his first game back was him saying he thinks he “proved” to his coaches that he could play a 200 foot game at the NHL level. It struck me strangely as if he just needed to prove something for a game and that’s it. I didn’t want to to overreact to such silly semantics, but since then, I am starting to wonder if there was something behind my thought.

The fact that the defensive plays he was making his first game back seemed so easy for him scared me as well. To the point where I wondered “is this about his awareness of this facet of the game or is it simply abou putting in the effort?” Scary to think he is just straight up not playing defense simply because he doesn’t want to even though it would help the team.

Anyways, I don’t want to get too carried away, but I’m disappointed he seems to have hit the “reset” button on all his past issues he was supposed to have (and I thought he had) worked on.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I see what you did there.

 

[TD Charlie]

Hard to use last night as a measuring stick for anyone. Donato was pretty bad when he wasn’t invisible, much like everybody else.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Do we really need to post warnings at the top of each and every page of each and every thread?

Stay on topic. Don't flame each other.

Warnings and worse to follow for anyone who finds the site rules too difficult to navigate.

This is beyond tiresome.

 

[Blowfish]

Anyone else worried about his skating? It's f ugly. He improves this part of his game he can be very dangerous.

 

[BMC]

He seems to have forgotten what he learned in Providence, he's back to floating defensively

 

[RoccoF14]

Ryan Donato is not an NHL Level skater. His skating is so far off from being an NHL and it gives the perception that he is lazy and/or weak. He just can't skate. Skating exposes players and that's what we are seeing here. He has hands good hands and a NHL shot, but in today's game, he will be unsuccessful. 15 years ago he's Glenn Murray.

This post absolutely nailed it.

Kids got great hands and not much else. He’s still got trade value though and I’d move him now before the rest of the league figures that out...