Making the final case for the Chicago Blackhawks to keep Ryan Donato

I've said it many times. I am opposed to moving Ryan Donato.

However, as this deadline has shown, players of similar ilk to Donato are fetching serious returns.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde just went to Tampa for two first-round draft picks, a second, and a player in Michael Eyssimont.

I don't see the Hawks getting quite that high of a return for Donato, but with how well he's played, and the market price being set where it is, I now expect them to land a first-round pick for Donato.

Yay! Another first round pick right...? Meh.

Look, acquiring a first-round pick for a player who is having a career year at 28 and may not even sign an extension in the summer is the smart business move for most teams.

But the Blackhawks are not most teams.

The Hawks have drafted eight players in the first round since 2022. Over the next three drafts, they have five first-round picks. While those firsts can always be used to land a good player in a trade later on, I think the time has come to identify guys you believe in, and you want here long term.

Donato has proven to be everything the Hawks have not been the past several years.

He is competitive, driven, aggressive, and greatly improved as a skater. He is having his best year of his career not by luck, but due to careful attention to detail in his game and a desire to improve. I love his game, and I see him as a great long-term third or fourth line fit on the Hawks.

Another factor to consider is that the price to keep Donato will likely age well.

Due to how well he has played, he is clearly due a big raise, and he will likely be looking for some years of security as well, as he has a young family to consider.

But let's say the offer is four years at $4.25 million per season. I would pay that in a heartbeat for a guy like Donato. In fact, if the Hawks move Donato, they will probably spend that kind of money and term to go get a guy who plays like...Ryan Donato....Do you see my logic here?

Look, it seems that the Hawks are going to move him, and maybe (pure speculation here) he has informed them that either A) he wants to explore unrestricted free agency to capitalize on his monster season or B) that his price is way higher than $4.25 million that would be ideal to pay him.

If that's the case, I understand moving him, but man oh man will I miss him.

The Hawks can't look to the future forever. When a guy shows you that he is part of the solution, pay him and make him part of the solution. Kyle Davidson, we want Donato.