Former Bruins Ryan Donato - II

[RussellmaniaKW]

this kid has a ton of skill and i really believe he'll be an impact player in the NHL, but he's just not playing his game right now. It's like a night & day difference vs his stint last year. He absolutely should not be in the lineup right now. Bjork has outplayed him, Heinen has outplayed him, and frankly Cehlarik outplayed him in camp/preaseason. Donato should be in Providence rounding out his game and either Bjork or Cehlarik should be in the lineup every night along with Heinen who I think has the best claim to a spot of any of them.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Cehlarik just got benched for poor play in Providence. Doubt he is getting called up when he is struggling to stay on the ice in the AHL.

Just saw the Divver tweet.

 

[Dr Hook]

Just saw the Divver tweet.

Given that we probably won't be seeing Pete any time soon, I think the case can be made of Bjork over Donato right now, and maybe JFK or Fitzgerald are worth a look.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

My point more so (and I should have been clear) was Donato hasn't played much high level hockey, and three times less than Marchand did at this point in their careers. Donato is basically a "newborn" in NHL terms.

You're right. But, I think it would help him to progress at a level below where he is at right now (the AHL). He seems to have no confidence and very little sense as to how to play an all-around game at the NHL level.

I always feel a little foolish saying those kind of things as a fan sitting on my couch, but the guy looks basically lost/overmatched 95% of the time he's on the ice.

 

[elMatador]

Given that we probably won't be seeing Pete any time soon, I think the case can be made of Bjork over Donato right now, and maybe JFK or Fitzgerald are worth a look.

I blame Cehlarik for a poor play by Donato or Bjork. The guy was no show the last 7 games.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

bang on. the bruins have basically decided to let donato learn on the fly. there will be
a lot of highs and lows, and it's gonna take a while for him to really figure things out.
i think you'll see a real growth next season.

this kid has a ton of skill and i really believe he'll be an impact player in the NHL, but he's just not playing his game right now. It's like a night & day difference vs his stint last year. He absolutely should not be in the lineup right now. Bjork has outplayed him, Heinen has outplayed him, and frankly Cehlarik outplayed him in camp/preaseason. Donato should be in Providence rounding out his game and either Bjork or Cehlarik should be in the lineup every night along with Heinen who I think has the best claim to a spot of any of them.

I really don't understand why the B's seem so adverse to having Donato go down to PRO, play big minutes, and work on the aspects of his game that need help. I think 40-50 games in the AHL would do wonders, like it has for others.

 

[Blowfish]

Cehlarik just got benched for poor play in Providence. Doubt he is getting called up when he is struggling to stay on the ice in the AHL.

Nice try not what Divver posted...."We're trying to work on his puck play off the wall" does not equal getting benched for poor play in Providence.

 

[Crash Bandicoot]

My take is this, its all on Don Sweeney and Cassidy. They need to do a better job of assessing talent and line pairs. Hockey might not be like football but if there is anything we learn from Bill Belichick its that you put you people in the best position to succeed. Not plug people into slots and say, make it happen. Donato needs better talent around him and consistently, period. The whole makeup of the bottom 3 lines looks ragged. You'd think they were all found on misfit island. These are highly talented players who are just are not playing well together.

 

[Blowfish]

I really don't understand why the B's seem so adverse to having Donato go down to PRO, play big minutes, and work on the aspects of his game that need help. I think 40-50 games in the AHL would do wonders, like it has for others.

Cehlarik is sitting because providence bruins are trying to work on his puck play off the wall.....and Donato is playing in Boston? Something doesn't smell right here. I felt strongly it was a matter of time Donato is sent down to work on all aspects of his game Cehlarik would be the call up? Just very odd the bruins are handling the prospects right now.

 

[Saxon Eric]

I really don't understand why the B's seem so adverse to having Donato go down to PRO, play big minutes, and work on the aspects of his game that need help. I think 40-50 games in the AHL would do wonders, like it has for others.

Makes you wonder if promises were made...

 

[RoccoF14]

Cehlarik is sitting because providence bruins are trying to work on his puck play off the wall.....and Donato is playing in Boston??.......Just very odd the bruins are handling the prospects right now.

I blame Julien....

 

[Gee Wally]

Many times in cases like these the issue is what we dont get to see.
Does the player practice hard or go through the motions?
Is the player open to feedback and demonstrating understanding and adjustments.

Some do. Some dont.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Makes you wonder if promises were made...

This was my reply to a post in the Heinen thread earlier about possible "promises" to Donato:

Suspected handshake deal to get him to leave college and sign. I support it as he could have just waited a year and then signed with any team. He would have graduated while being a star in his father's team.

He'll be a good player down the road and we are lucky to have him.

I guess? Let me ask you something. Who do these supposed “handshake” deals benefit?

The player and agent may think it’s a good idea at the time because it secures a spot on the NHL team for the player and garners more money for he and the agent. However, if the player struggles and isn’t ready, it’s not good for their development as a player on the ice. It can make things difficult off the ice as well with fan displeasure and/or upset teammates who feel the player doesn’t belong.

I think it’s far more likely that the B’s told him last year if he signed that they would play him in the NHL and burn a year in his contract. They kept playing him because he performed well.

Based off that, they probably hoped he would pick up this year where he left off last regular season. They see his potential, but I highly doubt there was a handshake deal for this season.

 

[Blowfish]

I blame Julien....

Julien is the obvious reason for many a prospect demise however I blame NHL for allowing an NCAA out clause on this one.

 

[UncleRico]

Nice try not what Divver posted...."We're trying to work on his puck play off the wall" does not equal getting benched for poor play in Providence.

Excuse me? They certainly didn’t scratch him because he was playing well. In all likelihood it was a wake up call to him because he wasn’t responding to his coaches requests of playing along the walls and grinding like they requested.

 

[DominicT]

Nice try not what Divver posted...."We're trying to work on his puck play off the wall" does not equal getting benched for poor play in Providence.

You're right. He did say "healthy scratch".

There is a huge difference between healthy scratch and benched.

 

[BMC]

Donato's offense is there but he just looks completely lost in his own end. Didn't he learn anything about defense in college??? I've said previously I think he's got it in him to be a more complete player but man is it painful to watch him out there when his line doesn't have the puck.

 

[Dr Hook]

Donato's offense is there but he just looks completely lost in his own end. Didn't he learn anything about defense in college??? I've said previously I think he's got it in him to be a more complete player but man is it painful to watch him out there when his line doesn't have the puck.

Imagine if you could meld him with Nordstrom right now- that would be a hell of a player right there

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Has a really good shot, works hard, skates well, high offensive IQ.

I can live with some learning D mistakes.

 

[Kalus]

This was my reply to a post in the Heinen thread earlier about possible "promises" to Donato:

I guess? Let me ask you something. Who do these supposed “handshake” deals benefit?

The player and agent may think it’s a good idea at the time because it secures a spot on the NHL team for the player and garners more money for he and the agent. However, if the player struggles and isn’t ready, it’s not good for their development as a player on the ice. It can make things difficult off the ice as well with fan displeasure and/or upset teammates who feel the player doesn’t belong.

I think it’s far more likely that the B’s told him last year if he signed that they would play him in the NHL and burn a year in his contract. They kept playing him because he performed well.

Based off that, they probably hoped he would pick up this year where he left off last regular season. They see his potential, but I highly doubt there was a handshake deal for this season.

If he proves himself to be blatantly not ready, it is in everybody's best interest for him to develop in Providence. But i think he gets a lot more rope than the average guy given his bargaining position at the time.

 

[BMC]

Imagine if you could meld him with Nordstrom right now- that would be a hell of a player right there

Oh wow yeah!!!

 

[shoulders7]

Donato's offense is there but he just looks completely lost in his own end. Didn't he learn anything about defense in college??? I've said previously I think he's got it in him to be a more complete player but man is it painful to watch him out there when his line doesn't have the puck.

Axelsson’s defense was there but he just looked completely lost in the offensive end. Didn’t he learn anything about offense in Sweden??? Man was it painful to watch him out there in the offensive end when the bruins had the puck.

 

[Blowfish]

Let me guess. Pasta dropping to 3rd line and Donato taking his spot tonight?

 

[Dr Hook]

Axelsson’s defense was there but he just looked completely lost in the offensive end. Didn’t he learn anything about offense in Sweden??? Man was it painful to watch him out there in the offensive end when the bruins had the puck.

Oh come on now- around 30 points per season on average for Ax. Decent 3rd line production which was where he mostly played after he got his NHL game on track. And as a 7th round pick. Not a great comparison to make.

 

[shoulders7]

Oh come on now- around 30 points per season on average for Ax. Decent 3rd line production which was where he mostly played after he got his NHL game on track. And as a 7th round pick. Not a great comparison to make.

No, not around 30 points per season on average, one season with 36 points and one with 30 and everything else in the teens or 20s. An he spent quite a bit of time with Asgard and Murray on the first line as well. I actually wasn’t comparing them at all, was just pointing out to the poster I quoted that she only likes one dimensional players if they are defensive ones.

Also, you say decent 3rd line production, isn’t that where Donato is currently playing? When axelsson was the same age he was in his first year here after 4 years in the Swedish league, 6 goals in 82 games. Donato has scored 6 goals in 18 games in his career so far. I actually agree with others that he should get his legs under him in providence, but it doesn’t seem the bruins feel the same way.