Blackhawks' Ryan Donato Trade Rumors Heat Up: Deadline Deal or Extension Ahead?

Ryan Donato, the Chicago Blackhawks' leading goal scorer, winger, has been turning heads this season with a career year.

With the trade March 7th trade deadline creeping closer [7 days away], teams like the Detroit Red Wings who are battling injuries are showing interest.

19 goals and 18 assists in 53 games, that's already blown past his old high of 31 points from a couple of seasons back.

Yet, while the market heats up, Chicago's GM Kyle Davidson hasn't shut the door on keeping him around with a new contract extension if they can't find a suitor.

Donato's affordable $2MM deal and a solid 0.70 points-per-game would usually scream «first-round pick» or at least a couple of picks for a guy hitting free agency soon.

But there's a catch with Donato, digging into his stats since New Year's, and you'll see six of his eight goals came with an assist from big names like Connor Bedard, Taylor Hall, or Teuvo Teräväinen.

Donato has been given top line minutes all season, and one may believe Pat Maroon would post those same numbers by playing alongside Connor Bedard all season.

This season, he's logging 15:03 a game-up from his usual 12:46 career mark.

Playing alongside a 19-year old former first overall phenom like Bedard and a promising player like Teräväinen has juiced his stats.

Donato's comparable is quite close to forward Tyler Toffoli at least years trade deadline, have a look:

Last year's trade of Tyler Toffoli-26 goals and 44 points in 61 games-for a second- and third-round pick with salary retained.

Donato's in that ballpark of value, but according to a report from multiple Blackhawks reporters, he's only expected to fetch a third round pick.

If the Blackhawks can't get more than that for their top goal scorer, locking him up for two or three years might beat cashing in on another Taylor Hall-like trade.