Chicago Blackhawks deliver surprise demotion to $16M goal-scoring forward

The move lands harder because Donato arrived with expectations after signing a four-year, sixteen-million-dollar deal this offseason.

He brought a career-high thirty-eight points last season, backed by steady two-way play and a reliable shot. Chicago wanted veteran insulation around its young core, and Donato, now twenty-nine, fit that plan perfectly.

Seeing him slide to the fourth line with Colton Dach and Sam Lafferty signals a message about pace and consistency. Donato has started slowly with only a small handful of points despite regular top-nine usage, and the staff wants more board pressure and quicker exits from him.

The shift also reflects the rise of Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore, who keep pushing play with speed and retrievals. Moore's jump has opened space for lineup creativity, and head coach Jeff Blashill seems ready to lean into it with more aggressive middle-six combinations.

The practice notes from reporter Charlie Roumeliotis confirmed the alignment, and they spread quickly across social platforms.

Fans reacted fast, mixing frustration with curiosity, because they expected Donato to hold a steady middle-six job after such a significant contract.

One analyst suggested the change might spark Donato's forecheck habits, since he can drive possession when he wins early battles. The fourth line usage could simplify his reads and let his shot emerge from cleaner entries.

From a tactical angle, Chicago wants more sustained zone time from every line. Donato's group can help if they tilt the ice with safer breakouts and quicker bump passes through the neutral zone.

The staff also values his versatility, so this assignment might not be permanent.

The next milestone arrives on Tuesday, when the Blackhawks face another test that should clarify whether this shakeup becomes a trend or just a brief experiment.