Donato

[Malagahawks]

Looks like that Nick's Foligno

My bad..

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

I love Foligno but he served his purpose here. It is probably time for him to retire after this season, does not appear to have much left in the tank and will be 38 next year. He had a solid career, he just got old.

He has a 1.5M base salary and 2.4M signing bonus. Can’t imagine he’d walk away from that vs just coasting on a shitty Chicago team.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I love Foligno but he served his purpose here. It is probably time for him to retire after this season, does not appear to have much left in the tank and will be 38 next year. He had a solid career, he just got old.

He's gonna coast his way through next season on the 4th line. Then he'll get a cushy front office job.

 

[Behn Wilson]

He has a 1.5M base salary and 2.4M signing bonus. Can’t imagine he’d walk away from that vs just coasting on a shitty Chicago team.

Thought his contract was up, Doh!

My Bad!

 

[WarriorofTime]

Really think this is going to be Donato walking for nothing, which is a pretty big disaster to not move him at the TDL in a career year. You'll never convince me the best offer was a 4th round pick or something...

 

[Toews2Bickell]

maybe consider giving him 6-7m aav for 2 years, plan on eating it regardless for a year and if you want to move him year two you retain 50% and he's near a fair aav, helps them get to the floor and if his production continues then you have a nice trade chip or a top 6 forward, I just hope he doesn't get term, also don't care if he walks for nothing if it means not giving him a silly contract

 

[CallMeShaft]

Really think this is going to be Donato walking for nothing, which is a pretty big disaster to not move him at the TDL in a career year. You'll never convince me the best offer was a 4th round pick or something...

Even if it was a 2nd, who cares. It's not a great draft and we've had countless 2nd and 3rd round picks.

It's better for GMs to know that Davidson won't yield than it is for us to get a guy who, statistically speaking, won't become an NHLer.

And I say this as someone who wanted Donato moved.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Even if it was a 2nd, who cares. It's not a great draft and we've had countless 2nd and 3rd round picks.

It's better for GMs to know that Davidson won't yield than it is for us to get a guy who, statistically speaking, won't become an NHLer.

And I say this as someone who wanted Donato moved.

You have the benefit of collecting assets while you’re in 31st place. You should either have an extension in place by the tdl or if he doesn’t want to sign for cheap then wish him well and send him for whatever. There is no reason to take a “who cares” approach. At this point, they should just overpay because keeping Donato around just for the 31st place push is totally unacceptable if he’s not a medium term player.

 

[clydesdale line]

Even if it was a 2nd, who cares. It's not a great draft and we've had countless 2nd and 3rd round picks.

It's better for GMs to know that Davidson won't yield than it is for us to get a guy who, statistically speaking, won't become an NHLer.

And I say this as someone who wanted Donato moved.

Completely agree. I wanted him gone, but I'm glad Kyle didn't just give him away. He knew what his value was, GMs didn't want to meet that value and he held onto him. If he walks because he's about to hit 30+ goals in a career year in a contract year wanting 5X5+ then props to Donato but also thank you for your services.

 

[CallMeShaft]

You have the benefit of collecting assets while you’re in 31st place. You should either have an extension in place by the tdl or if he doesn’t want to sign for cheap then wish him well and send him for whatever. There is no reason to take a “who cares” approach. At this point, they should just overpay because keeping Donato around just for the 31st place push is totally unacceptable if he’s not a medium term player.

It's not a "who cares" approach. It's setting a price for a player and if teams don't bite on it, then so be it.

If teams, and even agents, know that you won't settle for less than what you're asking, that gives you some negotiating power for the future.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

You have the benefit of collecting assets while you’re in 31st place. You should either have an extension in place by the tdl or if he doesn’t want to sign for cheap then wish him well and send him for whatever. There is no reason to take a “who cares” approach. At this point, they should just overpay because keeping Donato around just for the 31st place push is totally unacceptable if he’s not a medium term player.

there are things this FO does where you say love the direction but then they do get sloppy at times with the execution of the plan, def agree with you that the who cares approach is just not good business

 

[Ajex12x]

I agree with bits of both sides now that we're well past deadline. On paper I'd like the asset of a pick, in reality I'm either way. He did get Vlasic for 4.6, not saying he's getting that lucky again

 

[feichter33]

I'm a big believer in showing loyalty to your guys. Not stupidly, or ahead of time, but when they earn it. Donato has earned it. Us signing him would be a good thing, but im unsure his value. I like that he is not a 1 dimensional player, and that adds value.

Does 4x4 do it? If so, I'm okay with that. 5 or 6 years, not so much. But, I would also likely offer more $$ for less term, too. 2x5.5mil? Per year cap means almost nothing in the near future to us.

I really feel as a ufa tho, someone is gonna spend too much $$ or too much term. I don't feel that someone will be Kyle from Chicago.

 

[Pertti]

Completely agree. I wanted him gone, but I'm glad Kyle didn't just give him away. He knew what his value was, GMs didn't want to meet that value and he held onto him. If he walks because he's about to hit 30+ goals in a career year in a contract year wanting 5X5+ then props to Donato but also thank you for your services.

He didn't know the value cause trade was not made. Would have taken 3rd round pick myself.

If KD is convinced to team that we are going forward then we can't sell anyone for anything like beginning of the re-built.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Even if it was a 2nd, who cares. It's not a great draft and we've had countless 2nd and 3rd round picks.

It's better for GMs to know that Davidson won't yield than it is for us to get a guy who, statistically speaking, won't become an NHLer.

And I say this as someone who wanted Donato moved.

That second could have been used in a trade up either in this draft or a future one though.

 

[CallMeShaft]

That second could have been used in a trade up either in this draft or a future one though.

We have a late 2nd and a very early 3rd this year, it's really not a big deal.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I'd offer $6Mx3 or $5Mx4 - let him decide.

 

[Muffinalt]

I know it's a career year and he's not likely to repeat these numbers, but at what point do we consider that this level might be his somewhat sustainable going forward?

It's not entirely uncommon for guys even in their early prime to find new levels on teams where they get more opportunity. Guys like Verhaeghe, William Karlsson, Marchessault etc.

It's rare sure but Donato has above average compete and skating, and his shot is coming along very nicely into a legit tool.

I don't expect him to be a PPG player going forward sure, but I also don't automatically expect him to revert back to his previous numbers just because.

He's well liked in the locker room and fills a role of a compete guy that can play with skilled smaller players who need the net front/board battle. We need that with our bigger guys like Boisvert, Vanacker, Pridham etc are in juniors. And we're going to have more smaller guys like Lardis and Kantserov making the transition soon.

With all this said, I wouldn't be opposed of overpaying him slightly. Something like a Bertuzzi or TT contract (% wise, because AAVs are going to go up this summer with the cap). 5 or 6 mil for a 3-4 year deal I would be fine with. Ideally 3 years for sure, length is more important than the AAV. It won't be hard to trade a contract like that either, especially with the overflowing amount of assets we have both in picks and players.

Reward positive production, it's time to build that culture for all the young guys to see and strive towards.

 

[BHawks77]

Donato has shooting % of 17. I dont think he will keep doing that in the future. For example if he had shooting % of 11 he would have 18 goals. Dont know his actual career average?? Also do you want continue to play Donato is top 6??

 

[WarriorofTime]

It's not a "who cares" approach. It's setting a price for a player and if teams don't bite on it, then so be it.

If teams, and even agents, know that you won't settle for less than what you're asking, that gives you some negotiating power for the future.

All it does is show a young GM as pretending to hold cards that he wasn't and overplaying his hand. If the Hawks were simultaneously trying to extend him but couldn't agree on a number and simultaneously trying to trade him as a rental but couldn't get anyone to offer what they wanted, that's just an all around fail.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

not giving Donato term thats for sure

 

[x Tame Impala]

All it does is show a young GM as pretending to hold cards that he wasn't and overplaying his hand. If the Hawks were simultaneously trying to extend him but couldn't agree on a number and simultaneously trying to trade him as a rental but couldn't get anyone to offer what they wanted, that's just an all around fail.

There’s also value to the locker room by keeping him instead of trading him for a measly 3rd rounder. We’re finishing 32nd or 31st regardless so I like the idea of telling the kids we’re not trading away anyone with talent just for the hell of it. That tells them the Hawks aren’t a loser franchise and don’t want to be as bad as possible no matter what.

Anything more than 3 years I hope they let him walk and I couldn’t care less if he walks for nothing.

 

[WarriorofTime]

There’s also value to the locker room by keeping him instead of trading him for a measly 3rd rounder. We’re finishing 32nd or 31st regardless so I like the idea of telling the kids we’re not trading away anyone with talent just for the hell of it. That tells them the Hawks aren’t a loser franchise and don’t want to be as bad as possible no matter what.

Anything more than 3 years I hope they let him walk and I couldn’t care less if he walks for nothing.

How does that logic of the message and such not also apply to letting him walk because they’re counting pennies?

 

[x Tame Impala]

How does that logic of the message and such not also apply to letting him walk because they’re counting pennies?

Giving him a bad contract potentially hurts us for years. Trading him away for a measly 3rd or 4th rounder tells the whole hockey world that if you’re a vet playing well the Hawks would rather trade you than use you to become better. Both are bad.

If a player’s contract demands are a risk for the team then that takes priority

 

[WarriorofTime]

Giving him a bad contract potentially hurts us for years. Trading him away for a measly 3rd or 4th rounder tells the whole hockey world that if you’re a vet playing well the Hawks would rather trade you than use you to become better. Both are bad.

If a player’s contract demands are a risk for the team then that takes priority

If Anthony Beauvillier returned a second I really doubt Donato was only going for a third or fourth unless the hawks played themelves so badly in negotiations that any of the potential destinations went elsewhere by the end of it.