CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Donato wanted to stay, and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the hard-charging forward.
It took a while, but they figured it out.
The Blackhawks announced Wednesday that they re-signed Donato, their leading goal scorer last season, to a $16 million, four-year contract. He was eligible for unrestricted free agency before agreeing to his new deal with his fifth NHL team.
“Ryan brings energy and competes hard every game, which has been a huge asset to our team over the last two seasons,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “He’s been a crucial part of our offense, and we’re excited for Ryan to continue to make a difference in our lineup for the next four years.”
The 29-year-old Donato, who joined the Blackhawks when he signed a $4 million, two-year contract with the team in 2023, is coming off a breakout performance during the 2024-25 season, setting career highs with a 31 goals and 31 assists in 80 games. He finished second on the team in points with 62, behind only Connor Bedard’s 67.
Donato’s previous career bests were 16 goals in 2021-22 with Seattle and 18 assists in his first season with Chicago.
Donato’s camp had conversations with the team about a new contract ahead of the trade deadline this past season, but the sides weren’t able to finish the job. The Blackhawks ended up holding onto Donato through the deadline.
“We did have a rapid discussion around then, and it didn’t get done, but I wouldn’t say there’s a hurdle or anything like that,” Davidson said during the team’s end-of-season availability with reporters in April. “Once you get past the deadline, everyone takes a little breather, and then you’re near the end of the season.
“I think things will pick up now that we’re through the year.”
Donato’s contract answers one major question for Chicago as it tries to move back into contention after years of losing. The Blackhawks went 25-46-11 this past season, finishing last in the Central Division and No. 31 overall in the NHL.
After winning three Stanley Cup titles in six seasons from 2009-15, the Blackhawks have made the playoffs just once over the last eight seasons and have not advanced past the first round since raising that third Stanley Cup in 2015.
The Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson in December and elevated Anders Sorensen to interim head coach for the rest of the 2024-25 season before hiring Jeff Blashill as new head coach last month.
Donato, a Boston native and Harvard University product, has 108 goals and 119 assists in 483 career games, also playing for the Bruins, Wild and Sharks.
“We have obviously a super bright future here, and there’s going to be guys that make tremendous gains this summer that help the team, you know, win more games,” Donato said in April. “And I think Blackhawks fans and a lot of people are going to be surprised how quickly things can turn.”
The Blackhawks hold the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft, which will be held from June 27-28.
Donato is the son of former NHL forward Ted Donato, who also played college hockey at Harvard and recently completed his 21st season as the Crimson’s head men’s hockey coach. Ted Donato won an NCAA national title as a player at Harvard and went on to play 13 seasons in the NHL with eight teams in the 1990s and early 2000s, though he never played for the Blackhawks.