David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period recently reported that multiple teams have shown interest in Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato. Among the teams that have expressed interest are the LA Kings, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and our very own Winnipeg Jets, who are in such need of a centerman.

With Chicago’s season heading nowhere at the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, it makes sense that Donato has become an intriguing trade piece ahead of the March 7th deadline. He has set career highs with 19 goals and 37 points in 53 games on a struggling Blackhawks team. These numbers are sure to catch the attention of teams seeking a depth forward and penalty killer.

Donato signed a $4M, two-year deal with Chicago in 2023 and is eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season.

“He works his tail off, and he’s always going. Just being able to see that competitive side pay off and how it works at this level is really awesome,” said Donato’s teammate, Frank Nazar.

In his first year with Chicago, Donato posted 12 goals and 18 assists for a total of 30 points. He has recorded six goals and seven assists in his last 10 games, including a pair of goals and assists in a 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night. Donato also scored in a 6-5 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

The 28-year-old Boston native was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round (56th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his first couple of seasons (2017-19) with the Bruins before playing for the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, and now, the Blackhawks. Over his NHL career, he has played 456 games, recorded 96 goals, and 106 assists for 202 points. He has also accumulated 172 penalty minutes.

For a 28-year-old producing career-high numbers on a struggling Blackhawks team, Donato would be a great pickup for the Jets. The only concern is his faceoff percentage (46%). However, if he doesn’t work out as a center, he can always play the wing and provide additional depth to the Jets’ forward core.