The 2025 NHL free agency will be an important time for all 32 teams. In particular, the Ottawa Senators will need to have important free agency after making the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Earlier this month, the Senators signed defenseman Tyler Kleven to a two-year extension to get a head start. Now, the Senators have over $15 million in cap space.
Although the Senators have important free agents on the roster like Claude Giroux, Adam Gaudette and Nick Cousins, there isn't a guarantee that one, two or all three of them will return. However, there is one forward that is an underappreciated target that the Senators can give some consideration in signing with the season he just had.
Chicago's Donato had best season in his career; is a UFA this free agency
Since being drafted 56th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2014 NHL Draft, Ryan Donato has played for five different NHL teams. For the past two seasons, Donato has been a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2024-25 season, Donato delivered a career year to have teams draw interest in him this Summer. One of those teams can potentially be the Senators for his play this past season.
On a Blachawks team that finished with the second worst record in the NHL in the 2024-25 season with 62 points, Donato delivered career-highs with 31 goals, 31 assists and 62 points. Donato also delivered another personal best with five powerplay goals.
Donato led the Blackhawks in goals in 2024-25, and was the only 30-goal scorer on the roster. Donato was third in assists and second on the team in points. For being on a bad team, Donato stood out big.
For the past two seasons in Chicago, Donato has had a cap hit of $ 2 million. At 29 years old and having the best season of his career, Donato could receive a solid contract in the $3.5.4.75 million range per year.
Ottawa will need to have some potential backup options to sign at the forwards if they can't re-sign some of its important players that are due for contracts. That is where Donato can be a solid fit for the production he produced in Chicago.
Ironically back in February, there were rumors that the Senators were interested in trading for Donato at the trade deadline. However, the Senators traded for forwards Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund instead, and the Blackhawks didn't trade Donato at the deadline.
Donato is one of the most intriguing free agents that not many people might be talking about this Summer with the season he had in Chicago. However, adding a sneaky piece like Donato for the Senators could be an underappreciated move if it was to happen.