Player Discussion Ryan Donato

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think he’d be pacing slightly behind Zucker at this point. Around that 11+11, give or take a couple of each.

He’s at 6+3 right now. He’d be markedly better than that with Parise or Zucker’s opportunity. Had 16 in 22 in the top 6 last season. Which is a 60 point pace.

You'd have to be pretty confident in it to advocate trading Zucker outright because of it.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think if he'd spent the year in Zucker or Parise's spots (along with the powerplay minutes) he'd be closer to 20 points than he would be to 10. I don't think he's done enough to justify stealing either of those spots from either of those players, but it's something to bear in mind when thinking about what he is or can be.

A better example might be if Donato had been the guy to nab that RW spot instead of Fiala. I think Fiala's better and is a good fit there, but I also think we would've seen a similar surge from Donato. And again, before that move there was plenty of talk of trading Fiala for whatever we could get while now things are much more measured.

Donato might still end up drawing the short straw in all of this, but I'd much rather trade him as a player that's shown an ability to put up points and goals when given the opportunity than as a guy that spent the entire year alternating between the 4th line and the press box.

I will say, his tryout at center is going fairly well so far, as short as its been, and that is pretty intriguing.

 

[AKL]

You'd have to be pretty confident in it to advocate trading Zucker outright because of it.

I am confident that both Donato and Fiala could replace Zucker’s production going forward, but more so, I am confident that we should be moving on from Zucker as the next time we’ll be competitive for a playoff run, he’ll be almost 30 and an expiring UFA, and I would rather have given the opportunities between now and then to younger guys who will be around longer and could use it to develop into players better than Zucker.

Zucker will also return more value than Donato or Fiala will and is due more money.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

In games with >10 minutes TOI in 2019-20 so far:
14 games
4 goals
3 assists

In games with >12 minutes TOI in 2019-20 so far:
6 games
3 goals
1 assist

Last year, every game with us except for one (no points) he played >12 minutes, so:
21 games
4 goals
12 assists

In games with >15 minutes TOI last year:
11 games
1 goal
4 assists

I'll agree the numbers are fairly promising, but the sample size is still small, too small to make any drastic roster moves at the moment, IMO.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I know Parise is having an alright season and all(goal scoring wise), but would it be at all surprising if in the next year or two he falls off to the point that he’s a 4th liner? Sell high on Zucker this summer, elevate Donato. Donato has shown himself capable of producing close to Zucker’s pace in a top 6 role, both last year and his short stint this year. Geek line can stay in tact:

Fiala-Staal-Kaprizov
Donato-FA-Zucc
GEEK
Parise-sturm-Hartman

I know people will probably hate the idea of not giving Parise all of our top offensive opportunities like usual, but this guy has been given everything this year and, although he’s playing better lately, he’s on pace for 45 points. He’s definitely slowing down and I think a justifiable case can be made for giving a player who could be a big part of our goal-scoring in the future a shot at parise’s spot.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Keep the Staal and GEEK lines the same. Try and create 2 equal lines out of the remaining players that would garner equal ice time.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

And, by the way, I don't know if last night's game is any evidence of top 6 production as his line was last in TOI.

 

[DANOZ28]

zucker / staal / kaprizov ; fiala / ???? / donato good 2 go! trade zuccarello instead of zucker.

 

[AKL]

In games with >10 minutes TOI in 2019-20 so far:
14 games
4 goals
3 assists

In games with >12 minutes TOI in 2019-20 so far:
6 games
3 goals
1 assist

Last year, every game with us except for one (no points) he played >12 minutes, so:
21 games
4 goals
12 assists

In games with >15 minutes TOI last year:
11 games
1 goal
4 assists

I'll agree the numbers are fairly promising, but the sample size is still small, too small to make any drastic roster moves at the moment, IMO.

Well something has to give. Someone has to be moved. You’ve got pretty much five options. Four if you exclude Kunin.

Zucker, Fiala, Donato, Greenway. How do you pick one at this point to move either at the deadline or next summer?

 

[Northerner]

zucker / staal / kaprizov ; fiala / ???? / donato good 2 go! trade zuccarello instead of zucker.

Who would take Zucc?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Well something has to give. Someone has to be moved. You’ve got pretty much five options. Four if you exclude Kunin.

Zucker, Fiala, Donato, Greenway. How do you pick one at this point to move either at the deadline or next summer?

Right now, I'm evaluating Donato as a center, which would solve a lot of problems if it can work out. I'm also not all that concerned about the trade deadline since none of these guys are pending free agents and it looks right now like we're going to at least be in the playoff conversation. It would be an offseason thing for me.

Personally, I'm not all that concerned about good players playing down in the lineup. I see it as a benefit more than an issue. If elevating Donato (deservedly) and bringing in Kaprizov bumps GEEK down to a "4th line" then I don't really see a problem. They can still get their 13 minutes that they are getting currently. Makes the team better and more well rounded.

 

[nmburkholder]

Do you guys think he'll get an expanded role next year? Seeing he was at 10 mpg, why so low?

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Do you guys think he'll get an expanded role next year? Seeing he was at 10 mpg, why so low?

Hard to see him getting more ice-time here. We’re packed on the wings. I’d rather have him out 5v5 over Parise and have Parise be a power play specialist/grinder, but that won’t happen.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Do you guys think he'll get an expanded role next year? Seeing he was at 10 mpg, why so low?

Only if he changes positions.

 

[2Pair]

Do you guys think he'll get an expanded role next year? Seeing he was at 10 mpg, why so low?

Depends on how good Guerin is at his job.

 

[thestonedkoala]

What is going to happen to Donato next season? Are they going to move him full time to center? Because he had the worst FO% on the team and took less than Kunin and Hartman this season. He doesn't seem to have a good role on this team.

 

[2Pair]

Donato can barely play defense as a wing. He isn't going to be a center

 

[MuckOG]

I was really hoping Donato would show us more than he did against Vancouver. Like Zuccarello, he just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere.

 

[2Pair]

I was really hoping Donato would show us more than he did against Vancouver. Like Zuccarello, he just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere.

Playing Donato on a defensive, dump and chase line is a waste of everyone's time.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I was really hoping Donato would show us more than he did against Vancouver. Like Zuccarello, he just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere.

Maybe if they could continue developing him as a center?

 

[Spurgeon]

Playing Donato on a defensive, dump and chase line is a waste of everyone's time.

Yeah, it dumbfounded me why Donato was playing with Koivu and Hartman. Donato seems like a poor-man's Fiala. The guy was scoring 5 v 5 goals at a ridiculous pace during the regular season. Scratching him when we were struggling to score at 5 v 5 just didn't make any sense (and it probably killed any trade value he had).

Ultimately, he should've been put on a line with Zuccarello to feed him pucks. Maybe you could make up for their defensive faults by putting Koivu between them, but Hartman with Donato was idiotic.

 

[AKL]

Yeah, it dumbfounded me why Donato was playing with Koivu and Hartman. Donato seems like a poor-man's Fiala. The guy was scoring 5 v 5 goals at a ridiculous pace during the regular season. Scratching him when we were struggling to score at 5 v 5 just didn't make any sense (and it probably killed any trade value he had).

Ultimately, he should've been put on a line with Zuccarello to feed him pucks. Maybe you could make up for their defensive faults by putting Koivu between them, but Hartman with Donato was idiotic.

Considering they tried Foligno, Greenway and Parise on Staal's LW to get things going, I'm amazed that Donato never found his way there. I recognize he has more than his fair share of flaws, but the coaching staff, for an entire season, tried to mask his flaws rather than trying to play to his strengths.

 

[Spurgeon]

Considering they tried Foligno, Greenway and Parise on Staal's LW to get things going, I'm amazed that Donato never found his way there. I recognize he has more than his fair share of flaws, but the coaching staff, for an entire season, tried to mask his flaws rather than trying to play to his strengths.

The only reason I wouldn't throw Donato there is because I feel like Fiala plays the same role that Donato would on that line. I completely agree otherwise. I don't know how Greenway lasted so long on that line honestly. The guy is not a good skater and he doesn't possess the playmaking abilities that enhance Fiala's game. Donato would've made more sense than anyone else that was put there.

It'll be nice with Kapizov next year & if we somehow end up with Laf, we're going to have a scary Top 6.

Even if we don't get Laf, I really wouldn't have a problem with:

Kaprizov/Donato - Staal - Fiala

Donato/Kaprizov - X - Zuccarello

Parise - Ek - Kunin

Foligno - Sturm - Hartman

Greenway ++ for Top 6 C.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Still waiting for Greenway to develop into the physical beast that pots 20 a year. Doubting it happens more and more by the day.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Still waiting for Greenway to develop into the physical beast that pots 20 a year. Doubting it happens more and more by the day.

Hand skills aren't there.