The 2025 NHL trade deadline is just four days away.
According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun, the Washington Capitals have kept tabs on the “market for depth forwards.” While they specifically mentioned previously connected names like Brandon Tanev, Jake Evans, and Joel Armia, they also listed a new name, Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato.
Donato is a former second-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2014 NHL Draft, who has spent time with the Bruins, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken over the past eight seasons.
After his contract with Seattle expired, he inked a two-year, $4 million deal with the rebuilding Blackhawks. With Chicago, Donato has had the best season of his career this year while regularly playing with young phenom Connor Bedard. In 58 games, Donato has recorded 43 points (21g, 22a).
Donato plays both center and wing and is a major part of Chicago’s sixth-ranked power play unit. However, 17 of his 21 goals have come at five-on-five, which ranks tied for 10th in the NHL. No Capitals player has scored more five-on-five goals than Donato this year.
Current Capitals winger Taylor Raddysh was teammates with Donato last season in Chicago. The two weren’t regular linemates but outscored opponents 4-1 on the ice together at five-on-five.
Most points in the last month:
14 — Brandon Hagel
13 — Leon Draisaitl
13 — Ryan Donato
13 — Matt Duchene
13 — Clayton Keller
13 — Robert ThomasThe Ad Hominem Fallacy just can't be stopped. pic.twitter.com/zPelYMB3Cq
— Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) March 3, 2025
Donato is playing in the final season of the two-year, $4 million contract ($2M AAV) he signed with Chicago in 2023. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Per PuckPedia, the Capitals are expected to have $3.65 million in cap space at the deadline. Sonny Milano’s $1.9 million cap hit is not factored in as he is still on long-term injured reserve.
