Recently, Charlie Coyle was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ryan Donato and a 5th round pick. The Bruins went out and did some early shopping before the trade deadline with the acquisition of Coyle.
An East Weymouth, Massachusetts native, Coyle is now able to head home with this trade. He is a versatile two-way forward that can play either center or right-wing. The Bruins have actually been interested and linked to Coyle over the last few months, and now they finally acquired him.
Two of the Bruins biggest needs, a third line center and a top-six winger, are roles that Coyle can adapt to and play in immediately. Coyle‘s production has been gradually decreasing over the past year or two, but the Bruins probably think that his production will rebound with a fresh start.
Donato, 22, was drafted in second round of the 2014 NHL Draft and he spent his first two seasons mainly with the Bruins organization. He has been playing with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League recently, however.
In the three years he spent with Harvard, he totaled 104 points in 97 games. He broke out in his final year at Harvard as a Hobey Baker finalist.
Donato is still young and has the offensive tools, and his game is best suited for a scoring role. He owns a powerful shot and has patience when the puck is on his stick.
His main weakness, however, is his defensive game. Donato usually does not really compete when he is in his own zone, and that is why he has been in the AHL. Not only that but he needs work on his backchecking as well.
For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent down Kasperi Kapanen to their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, and that helped improve his defensive game and it gave him an increased role on the penalty-kill in the NHL. It may take time, but if the Wild can develop Donato into an improved two-way player, he should get consistent ice time in the NHL.