Player Discussion Ryan Donato

[GloryDaze4877]

I don't believe that is the issue at all. I think with his youth its more of a slow reaction while he gets used to the speed of the game. When he gets that down he is going to be a good one.

Agree.

I don’t think it’s foot speed, so much as it is awareness and reaction time. When he was out there for goals against, it wasn’t so much that he was too slow to get where he needed to be. It was that he was too far away and waited too long to react.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Donato (4/9/96) at Harvard:

Fresh 15/16 (19) 32 games, 13g/8a/21p

Sophomore (20): 36 games, 21g/19a/40p

Junior (21): 29 games, 26g/17a/43p

B’s (21/22), 12 games, 5g/4a/9p


Look at Heinen (7/5/95) at Denver:

Freshman (19): 40 games, 16g/29a/45p

Sophomore (20): 41 games, 20g/20a/48p

AHL (21): 64 games, 14g/30a/44p

NHL (22) 77 games, 16g/31a/47p



Bjork (8/5/96) at Notre Dame:

Fresh (18): 41 games, 7g/15a/22p

Soph (19): 35 games, 12g/23a/35p

Junior (20): 39 games, 21g/31a/52p

NHL (21): 30 games, 4g/8a/12p


You can draw your own conclusions from these numbers. All three guys were at good D1 programs, playing difficult schedules.

Their roles were different at their schools. Donato relied on as more of a sniper, while Heinen and Donato were more “pass first” guys, capable of scoring, but also set up (in part probably due to a better supporting cast). They were also both better 3 zone players.

One could make an argument (based on age, level of competition, and production) that Bjork may actually project as the highest upside prospect?

If you said Bjork or Heinen has the best all-around skill set I’d probably agree with you. Their two way games are both ahead of Donato, but Heinen is the most developed so far. I think Donato has by far the best shot though and that gives him a ton of potential imo.

With Bjork and Donato it’ll be less about are they skilled and more about can they withstand an 82 game schedule.

I think Heinen out of these three would be the best suited for center. With his two way play and playmaking he could be a good center.

 

[Gee Wally]

Bruins' Ryan Donato got a taste of life in the pros, and now he wants more - The Boston Globe


A speedy, opportunistic center-slash-wing, Donato had 9 points in 12 games after arriving from Harvard last March, the first of which was a give-and-go one-timer from the right circle against Columbus. While notching a few practice absences so he wouldn’t fall behind in his junior-year studies, he finished the season with the Bruins. He went scoreless in three playoff games, a rookie bit-player on the toughest stage. The lessons he learned from that stint, which ended with a second-round handshake line in Tampa, are significant.

“I know I can do it. I know I can perform. I know I can put pucks in the net,” said Donato. “I see how big and strong guys are, how fast they are, what they’re doing at the rinks to separate themselves through competition, so I’m doing those things and trying to do more than that as well.”


“The biggest lesson [right now] is seeing the size, the speed, and the speed of thought,” said Ted Donato, speaking by phone while watching a camp at his alma mater’s Bright-Landry Center. “The best players know where everyone is, very quickly. There’s a lot of freak athletes out there, with freakish size, strength, speed, elusiveness. They’re the best in the world. It’s a huge advantage to get exposed to that at the end of the season. You’re not fooled into thinking you’re at a comfortable level.”

 

[DoubleAAAA]

Wonder if they'd give Donato the Seguin/Pasta treatment and let him ride with 63/37?

Edit: should've looked back a page

 

[Ratty]

Wonder if they'd give Donato the Seguin/Pasta treatment and let him ride with 63/37?

Edit: should've looked back a page

With his speed, skill set and hockey IQ, I see him more at 3C with 42 and 43 flanking him. Of all the sophs he has the most recent experience at the position. Went 8 for 8 on face offs in one game late in the season.

 

[Bruinator]

With his current defensive deficiencies, there is no way Donato's put on the Bergy line. Bjork had great numbers there in his limited debut last season as did Heinen while Marchand was out. So there are 2 internal candidates to replace Pasta if they want him on the 2nd line to create 2 powerhouse scoring lines.

Donato was OK with Krejci's line but I would prefer to see him start on the 3rd line LW. He and Heinen (slide over to RW which he played in college) could help create a dominant scoring 3rd line.

First off I think any defensive deficiencies he has are being greatly overstated on here. But secondly if he does have these deficiencies why not put them on a line with two of the best defensive players in the game. Your reasoning makes no sense

 

[00BW]

First off I think any defensive deficiencies he has are being greatly overstated on here. But secondly if he does have these deficiencies why not put them on a line with two of the best defensive players in the game. Your reasoning makes no sense

Because they are used to shutdown opposing top lines. If Donato is there, he's going to be the one exploited. Matthews would have scored a bunch of goals in last year's playoffs if he had someone to attack whose defense is not up to snuff. This is the same reason it took Pastrnak 2-3 seasons before he was allowed to ride shotgun with them--he had to learn to be more defensively sound.
Not just the NHL games, but if you saw Team USA he scored a bunch of goals but also made some really bad defensive plays at wing that cost them games (to be fair, he was also the only one scoring goals for Team USA so he was responsible for their wins too). If you watched him play at Harvard this past year, he very rarely played deep in his own zone--and that was as a center. He's always been a scorer and never asked to be shutdown defensive player. Contrast that to Bjork who played the checking role for the USA NTDP and then to start at Notre Dame. He developed into a reliable first line scoring wing in college which is why he's the best fit for the top line. Donato can get there, like Pastrnak, he just needs time. So playing on the 3rd line with Heinen or Bjork would be ideal.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Sitting goal scorers over defensive deficiencies is so Bruins

 

[KnightofBoston]

Sitting goal scorers over defensive deficiencies is so Bruins

Sure but in the NHL with the parity that’s been established, there’s a fine line between being a good team that can score and the Edmonton oilers.

I think Cassidy has done a remarkable job getting our club to perform both ways well, he was second place in Jack Adams for a reason, I have full confidence in his ability to make sound roster decisions and still inject offensive pop into their game

 

[DoubleAAAA]

Because they are used to shutdown opposing top lines. If Donato is there, he's going to be the one exploited. Matthews would have scored a bunch of goals in last year's playoffs if he had someone to attack whose defense is not up to snuff. This is the same reason it took Pastrnak 2-3 seasons before he was allowed to ride shotgun with them--he had to learn to be more defensively sound.
Not just the NHL games, but if you saw Team USA he scored a bunch of goals but also made some really bad defensive plays at wing that cost them games (to be fair, he was also the only one scoring goals for Team USA so he was responsible for their wins too). If you watched him play at Harvard this past year, he very rarely played deep in his own zone--and that was as a center. He's always been a scorer and never asked to be shutdown defensive player. Contrast that to Bjork who played the checking role for the USA NTDP and then to start at Notre Dame. He developed into a reliable first line scoring wing in college which is why he's the best fit for the top line. Donato can get there, like Pastrnak, he just needs time. So playing on the 3rd line with Heinen or Bjork would be ideal.

Seguin and Pasta weren't exactly defensive juggernauts when they came in

 

[ODAAT]

Sitting goal scorers over defensive deficiencies is so Bruins

depends, playoff time, I`d argue if a coach has the option of putting in a vet or any player who is responsible in all zones over a kid/player who shows some struggles with identifying where he needs to be and the battle to not hurt the team, most coaches, I would argue, would lean towards the first option.

 

[DKH]

On WEEI right now

Spectacular- love this kid

Plays first NHL game and afte game went back to dorm and slept had school work

Phenomenal

 

[Gordoff]

On WEEI right now

Spectacular- love this kid

Plays first NHL game and afte game went back to dorm and slept had school work

Phenomenal

What's phenomenal is that one of the "sports stations" have ANY hockey talk at all any more. I've given up listening to either of them. I may tune in during hockey season, or not.

 

[DKH]

I watched the Donato interview on NESN with Dale & Keefe and it was great.

Funny stories, great information, really good stuff

Not sure if anyone can get it here but I think everyone hockey fan or not would enjoy it

 

[BiGBear8]

What's phenomenal is that one of the "sports stations" have ANY hockey talk at all any more. I've given up listening to either of them. I may tune in during hockey season, or not.

your right all about red sox and pats never bruins

 

[Grimey]

Love how commited he is to not just getting up to speed but separating himself from the rest. I think he's going to do great in this league.

 

[Bumper]

Sitting goal scorers over defensive deficiencies is so Bruins

I imagine that your namesake is happy to see it. the goals come from that strong plus play. I am excited for Donato to get there. I don't see the need to try to force it by rushing.

 

[rocketdan9]

Send Donato down to Providence. Not ready

Call up Hughes

 

[Marcobruin]

Send Donato down to Providence. Not ready

Call up Hughes

I don't think Donato is the only concern here.
Heinen, de brusk, bork backes
Have a combined 15 games played with 0 pts..

 

[whitetape]

They all have great potential. But if Donato had been on the receiving end of Griz's pass last night, he would have taken it to the net and probably buried it. Bjork still seems a little overawed, needs to assert himself.

 

[TCB]

I don't think Donato is the only concern here.
Heinen, de brusk, bork backes
Have a combined 15 games played with 0 pts..

Debrusk is not a concern at all. The kids played very well this season and he's due to break out with a big game. He's been a little snake bitten early but he never quits and eventually hes going to bust out.

 

[Blowfish]

He needs to suck it up in Providence for a bit. NHL was handed to him (assuming agreement on signing with bruins out of college). He needs to experience what it's like in the AHL.

 

[Dr Hook]

He needs to suck it up in Providence for a bit. NHL was handed to him (assuming agreement on signing with bruins out of college). He needs to experience what it's like in the AHL.

I agree with you on this. I think Donato could use some time in Providence working on the stuff the team insisted that Heinen work on last season, as an example. Of course, for you I know this could mean a Cehlarik callup But whatever happens, Cehalrik comes up, Nordstrom stays where he is, whatever, Donato would probably benefit from some games in the A.

 

[Dellstrom]

He needs to suck it up in Providence for a bit. NHL was handed to him (assuming agreement on signing with bruins out of college). He needs to experience what it's like in the AHL.

Yup. Tough to agree because he lit up the NHL for the few games he had during the season but it might have been adrenaline, rookie luck, etc... Nothing wrong with sending him down to Providence for a month or two if they plan on benching him here and there. Better for him to get 20+ minutes every night and get in a groove.

 

[rocketdan9]

I don't think Donato is the only concern here.
Heinen, de brusk, bork backes
Have a combined 15 games played with 0 pts..

true. The problem with that 3rd line is lack of chemistry and Backes is really now a 4th line player

Cassidy pulled the right move dropping Backes to the 4th line in game 2. He should have left him there

Heinen and Bjork are working out there, but they lack chemistry. Bjork is also a high flyer and when bringing up the puck has nobody to join him