I’ve written a few pieces about Ryan Donato this season. I didn’t expect to, but there was something in the way he presented himself in the Chicago Blackhawks’ behind-the-scenes show, Every Shift, that caught my attention. He was determined and focused, registering career highs in goals, assists, and points—31 goals, 31 assists, and 62 points. Call it the “Haydon Bump” because I saw this coming.
All joking aside, Donato’s play was a bright spot during an otherwise disappointing season. It’s always great to see a player excel offensively despite the team’s struggles (the Blackhawks finished seventh-worst in goals scored). In celebration of the 29-year-old forward, a closer look at how he registered those 62 points makes his season even more impressive.
How Donato Scored
Donato notched 31 goals on 182 shots for a shooting percentage of 17% – all bests. His 26 even-strength goals were tied for ninth in the league with Jason Robertson and Brayden Point. Only five, or 16%, of his goals were scored on the power play. The NHL’s leading scorer, Leon Draisaitl, scored 16 of his 52 goals (31%) with the man advantage. I’m not saying Donato is a better scorer than Draisaitl, but the numbers emphasize how impressive his breakout season was.
Ryan Donato scores his 31st goal of the season, and Connor Bedard picks up the assist to break Eddie Olczyk's previous record for most by a teenager in franchise history (81). #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/YEokIKK8rT
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 13, 2025
Related: 10 Thoughts on the Blackhawks’ 2024-25 Season
Donato’s goal-scoring will likely regress next season, but the key difference between this and previous seasons was his number of shot attempts. He attempted 336 shots this season—68 more than his high in 2021-2022. If he can maintain his shot-first mentality, his regression may not be as severe as anticipated.
How Did Donato “Assist” the Team?
Symmetry can be beautiful. Donato’s 31 assists mirrored his goal total. Even more impressive, only nine of his assists were tallied on the power play, and 25 were primary – meaning he didn’t reach a career-high by cashing in on the power play or registering a secondary assist long after he left the ice. He was a driver of the Blackhawks’ offense, directly contributing to 28% of the team’s goals.
Compared to other seasons, Donato tallied 13 more assists than his previous best of 18 in 2023-24 (also with the Blackhawks). That’s a 72% increase. It’s hard to imagine him maintaining that pace, and it will largely depend on how he’s deployed next season. The Blackhawks saw an influx of young talent filling out the roster throughout the season’s final games. As Donato approaches 30 years old, his ice time will likely diminish and, consequently, his production.
However, over the final 10 games of this season, Donato tallied six goals and one assist. If we can glean anything from his play, it’s that he makes the most of his opportunities when the pressure mounts, and he plays with pride. He needed to play well this season to earn a new contract. He did. We shouldn’t expect him to coast next season, even though his role will vary.
Donato’s Contract
Speaking of contracts, there’s nothing left to discuss about Donato except his next deal. General manager Kyle Davidson didn’t trade him at the deadline in March. News surrounding negotiations has been sparse. We’ve seen reports that the Blackhawks have offered him a three-year deal worth roughly $4 million per year. Frank Seravalli first reported these terms in March, and The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers reiterated the same yesterday (from ‘Five offseason questions for the Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson,’ The Athletic, April 16, 2025).
From the outside, this offer looks reasonable. It sets up Donato for the next three seasons in a city he’s loved. But he’s earned the right to test the free agent market if he thinks a more competitive offer might materialize. It’s hard to imagine a team offering more term, but with the salary cap increasing next season, he could squeeze some money out of a team looking for a player like him.
Ultimately, his fate rests in his hands—a position he would’ve done anything for at the start of the season. Posting career highs across the board will do that for you.
