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Boston Bruins: Ryan Donato Could Be Best Trade Deadline Acquisition

By Dave Stevenson

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 5: Ryan Donato #16 of the Harvard Crimson skates against the Boston University Terriers during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 3-2 in double overtime to advance to the Beanpot championship game February 12. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 5: Ryan Donato #16 of the Harvard Crimson skates against the Boston University Terriers during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 3-2 in double overtime to advance to the Beanpot championship game February 12. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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The best possible trade deadline acquisition for the Boston Bruins is Olympian Ryan Donato 

The Boston Bruins have to make some difficult decisions before the NHL trade deadline. Is this the year they should go all-in? The Bruins have the picks and the prospects to get just about anyone they want. They’ve been tied to, among other names, Rick Nash, Mike Hoffman, and even defenseman Ryan McDonagh. However, their best possible acquisition, Ryan Donato might come after the trade deadline.

Currently, he’s playing for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics. In their opening loss to Slovenia, Donato picked up an assist. At the ripe young age of 21, he’s one of Team USA’s best players.

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Donato also attends Harvard University, where he has been nothing short of dominant. Over the past two seasons, he has played in 59 games. Donato has 42 goals (21 goals each season) combined. In 36 games in 2016-17, he put up 40 points. So far in 2017-18, Donato has 31 points in 23 points.

Expect something to get done between the Bruins and their second-round pick (56th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. Donato is finishing his junior season and probably wants to move on to the NHL. He has absolutely nothing left to prove at the college level. Donato was named as a Hobey Baker finalist, but his Olympic play will likely hurt his chances of winning the award.

What He Brings To The Bruins

Currently, the Bruins are chasing the NHL’s Holy Grail – four skilled forward lines capable of scoring. This is a huge change from their past strategy of relying on Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand to carry the team.

Looking at the Bruins forward lines, they are pretty darn close to having four lines capable of scoring. However, they could use an upgrade at center. Riley Nash has been a surprising contributor as a third-line center. Though Sean Kuraly has been less than impressive in terms of scoring.

Donato’s calling card is his offense. But his defense is still pretty outstanding. At the very least, Donato isn’t a liability defensively. He could be a fourth-line center option for them. This would give the Bruins a quality goal scorer on each forward line. Donato could also fill in as a wing because of his versatility.

Next: Bruins All-Time Team

Whatever the Bruins do at the trade deadline, it’s safe to say they’re going to be consulting their top forward prospect along the way. Boston aggressively got Charlie McAvoy up to the NHL last season after his college season ended. They’ll likely try to do the same thing with Donato.

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