I still think he has potential to be a good player, but I don't understand why he didn't stay in Providence for a few weeks after his send down to really work on his complete game. I look at the way the team is handling Senyshyn and question why Donato doesn't get the same program because as of right now he is a one trick pony.
He's a better player than Senyshyn, that's why.
Fact is, Donato is 5th in goals-per-game on this team.
In a game where no Bruin had gotten one past Holtby, he did. Why is always about defensive play and "200 ft. games"? Are we that jaded by the Julien era we think 200 ft. play is the be-all and end-all. That kid line in general got hemmed in really just once last night, late in the 3rd. Otherwise they weren't a defensive liability at all.
Did anyone notice that the shift where Donato scored, he actually kept the puck in the zone by picking off a Washington break-out pass? Guess that doesn't qualify for showing improved defensive play.
Personally I don't care if Donato is ever a strong defensive player. I don't expect him to be. What I want to see is effort and goal-production. And the past few games, he's shown an improved effort in a lot of areas.
I'm not naive enough to say he hasn't gotten a longer look because of who is father is, but it's not just who is father is that is keeping him on the Bruins roster. A lot of it is him and his ability to do something that frankly the majority of the Bruins struggle with, called putting the puck past the goaltender. Especially in tight games and against hot goaltenders, you need natural goal-scorers and shooters.