Surprising New Development Reported on Blackhawks’ Ryan Donato

Ryan Donato's name has been front and center the past several days around the NHL, both for the fact that he's on quite the tear (4 goals, 7 points in last 3 games, 19 goals overall), as well as the inescapable fact that he's a prime trade candidate due to his pending unrestricted free agent status.

But despite everything we're hearing, it's no slam dunk that Donato is getting dealt, according to Scott Powers in The Athletic. He says that the red-hot forward staying in Chicago past March 7th, perhaps even with an extension, is on the table.

The Blackhawks aren’t as hellbent on trading Donato (as they were Taylor Hall), based on everything I’ve heard. They’ll certainly listen to any team interested in Donato, but they’re not looking to move him just to move him. It would have to really make sense for the Blackhawks.

And Powers says a first-round, or at least a second-round pick would be the only thing that makes sense. The way he's played, and especially alongside Connor Bedard, "He has potentially more value with the Blackhawks the rest of the way," than somewhere else, since "No player’s development is more important for the Blackhawks than Bedard’s."

Makes sense. But an extension?

Powers indicates that if Donato would be okay with a short-term two-year deal, the Hawks could be up to re-signing the soon-to-be 29-year-old. They will need to spend some money to get to the salary cap floor next season anyway, and if they aren't able to land any superstar free agent that could be available this summer, giving Donato a nice raise on a short-term deal could help them get there.

From Donato's perspective, however, he is currently sitting on 19 goals and 37 points, both already career highs, making his pending UFA status his one big chance to cash in during his career. If he feels there might be more lucrative, longer-term deals out there for him this offseason, signing a two-year extension in Chicago now might not make much sense.

In trade rumors thus far, he's been linked to a number of Canadian teams, as well as several other clubs south of the border.