Though he doesn’t seem the flashiest name on the market, a player like Donato could make a huge impact for the Maple Leafs.
Firmly in the prime of his career still, Donato is a reliable third-line center who can score (14G, 14A), throw hits (81), has nearly as many takeaways as giveaways (15 takeaways to 16 giveaways) and offers a solid faceoff percentage (44.9%).
Donato has been as consistent as ever too. There are only two seasons where he didn’t hit double digits in goals, averages 1.5 takeaways per giveaway for his career, and could be a solid option on Toronto’s second power-play unit.
Chicago just traded Taylor Hall away, took on salary for the Mikko Rantanen deal, and looks to be accelerating their rebuild and will be looking for draft picks or a low-end prospect to deal away Donato.
Toronto has a second, fifth, sixth, and seventh-round pick in this year’s draft so it’s possible a player like Ryan Tverberg and a sixth-round pick could be the right total that gives Chicago a young player and assets while helping the Maple Leafs.
He’s also a free agent at the end of the season, and while the team would prefer a player with some extra term, the chance to get Donato at such a cheap cost is too good to pass up regardless of contract status.
Toronto has done well previously bringing in underrated pieces such as Michael Bunting and Noel Acciari in the past in order to add some insurance. Donato could be the next player who steps up for the Leafs during their most critical times.
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