ryan donato
C | 6' 0" | 192 lb | Age: 25 | Seattle Kraken
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​Born: April 9, 1996
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Birthplace: Boston, MA, USA
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Shoots: Left
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Draft: 2014 BOS, 2nd rd, 26th pk (56th overall)
Donato made an immediate impression with the Boston Bruins in his NHL debut on March 19, 2018. After starring for the United States at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and at Harvard University, Donato had three points (one goal, two assists) playing left wing with center David Krejci and right wing Danton Heinen in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"During warm-ups, it kind of felt like a dream," Donato said after the game. "I didn't really get that warmed up because I was too focused on everything else and just kind of the whole situation."
Donato was still enrolled at Harvard when he signed a two-year contract with the Bruins on March 18. He completed his junior season leading the Crimson with 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 29 games and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in NCAA Division I hockey.
The son of former Bruins forward and NHL veteran Ted Donato -- also the coach at Harvard -- Ryan was chosen in the second round (No. 56) in the 2014 NHL Draft. He scored five goals in seven games in PyeongChang before the U.S. was eliminated in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.
His time with the Bruins ended on Feb. 20, 2019, when he was traded to the Minnesota Wild for forward Charlie Coyle. He had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 22 games with Minnesota after the trade, then earned a regular role with the Wild in 2019-20.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
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ECAC Second All-Team (2017)
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ECAC First All-Star Team (2018)
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ECAC Player of the Year (2018)
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NCAA East First All-American Team (2018)
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Traded to Minnesota by Boston with a conditional pick in 2019 NHL Draft for Charlie Coyle, February 20, 2019.
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Traded to San Jose by Minnesota for a 3rd-round pick in 2021 NHL Draft, October 5, 2020.
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Signed as a free agent by Seattle, September 13, 2021.