Breaking: Calder Trophy candidate demoted to AHL

The Boston Bruins have announced that rookie Ryan Donato has been demoted to the AHL’s Providence Bruins.

The 22 year old Donato has struggled in 11 games with the Bruins this season, putting up just one assist. In 12 games last season, the Harvard product put up an impressive five goals and nine points. Hopefully this demotion to the AHL will allow him to play big minutes and build his confidence back up.

Read below for the official press release courtesy of the Bruins’ website:

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, November 1, that the team has assigned forward Ryan Donato to the Providence Bruins.

Donato, 22, has one goal in 11 appearances with Boston this season. In 2017-18, following his junior season at Harvard, the 6-foot, 181-pound forward appeared in 12 regular season games with Boston, tallying five goals and four assists for 9 points. He also skated in three postseason games.

Donato was a finalist for the 2018 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given annually to the best collegiate hockey player, after leading Harvard in scoring, recording 26 goals (4th in NCAA) and 17 assists for 43 points with a plus-15 rating in 29 games. He surpassed his previous career highs of 21 goals, 19 assists and 40 points while playing in seven fewer games.

Donato missed four of Harvard's games to represent Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where he appeared in all five of the team's games. He finished tied for the most goals in the Olympics with five, while his six points led all American players.

The Scituate, Massachusetts native was originally selected by the Bruins in the second round (56th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.