Every player is different? Bjork, before getting hurt, was doing well in the NHL. He didn't have any AHL time. McAvoy needed 4 games, and never sniffed the AHL again. Kreider came right out of BC, and played well for the Rangers in the playoffs. Johnny Gaudreau, Brock Boeser....Right out of college and never sniffed an AHL game. Miles Wood and Jimmy Vesey didn't play any AHL games.
No situation is the same. You don't know until you give it a look. Does Donato need AHL time? Probably....But who knows how he adapts to the NHL. Having better players around him could help him a lot.