NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ryan Donato knows better than anybody not to get too attached to any city. Not when you’re a professional athlete. The Blackhawks are Donato’s fifth NHL team in seven seasons, and he’s made two AHL stops along the way as well.
But he can’t help it. Chicago just feels like home right now. He and his wife already have their share of favorite restaurants, and their golden retriever, Moose, is loving the city, too — even though he has yet to take advantage of one of the city’s greatest charms, its wide variety of dog-friendly establishments.
“I should,” Donato said with a smile. “But he’s 90 pounds. He’s a big one. I wish I could take him everywhere with me, though. On the road, even.”
On the ice with the Blackhawks, however, Donato’s been as transient as ever. He started on the top line, dropped down to the fourth, moved back up to the top, then back down to the fourth. With so many injuries up and down the lineup — add Anthony Beauvillier to the list after he suffered a left arm injury in a 3-0 loss to the Predators on Tuesday — there have been few constants among the lines, and Donato’s been moved more than most.
Donato shrugs it off, but of course, like every player, he wants to play as much as possible.
“I prepare the same…
