Sharks acquire forward Donato from Wild

The Sharks on Monday morning acquired forward Ryan Donato from the Minnesota Wild for a 2021 third-round draft pick.

The 24-year- old Donato, an Olympian for Team USA in 2018, is entering his fourth year as a professional and has mainly been used as a depth forward so far in his career.

Last season, Donato had 14 goals and 23 points for Minnesota as he averaged 10 minutes and 38 seconds of ice time per game. All of his 14 goals came at even strength, as he finished tied for the team lead in that category with Kevin Fiala, Eric Staal and Luke Kunin.

“Ryan is an offensively-gifted young player who loves to compete and use his terrific shot,” Sharks general manager Doug

Wilson said in a statement. “His game had shown steady improvement each season and we think his best hockey is ahead of him.”

The third round draft pick the Sharks are sending to Minnesota is the one they acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in February in exchange for Patrick Marleau.

The Sharks still have six 2021 draft picks, including their own first and third round selections.

They have seven picks for this year’s draft, which begins with the first round on Tuesday and continues with the final six rounds on Wednesday.

For his NHL career, Donato, a left-handed shot, has 29 goals and 57 points in 130 games. The Sharks have holes to fill at right wing, so Donato could be used there by coach Bob Boughner if he is comfortable playing on his off-wing.

Listed at 6-foot and 193 pounds, Donato might also be a player Boughner uses on faceoffs. Last season, Donato won 40 of 102 draws.

Donato will be entering the final year of a two-year contract that carries a $1.9 million salary cap hit for this season, and will be a restricted free agent in 2021. Before he turned professional in 2018, Donato starred at Harvard with 104 points, including 60 goals, in 97 games over three years. He was a finalist in 2018 for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to U. S. college hockey’s top player.

He was originally drafted in the second round by the Boston Bruins in 2014.