The Chicago Blackhawks entered the offseason knowing they had a few key contracts to deal with after they found a head coach. With Jeff Blashill officially replacing Luke Richardson as head coach, general manager Kyle Davidson has to decide how he wants to proceed with Connor Bedard, who is eligible for a contract extension this summer.
On Wednesday, the Blackhawks took care of another question they had on the roster. With Chicago wanting to add quality talent in free agency or via trade, Davidson needed to make a decision on veteran forward Ryan Donato.
Per Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN, the Blackhawks extended Donato for four seasons at $4 million per year, which comes out to a $16 million extension with two weeks before he was set to hit free agency.
“The Chicago Blackhawks have signed forward Ryan Donato to a four-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $4 million, the team announced Wednesday,” Roumeliotis wrote. “Donato was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but it always felt like both sides would eventually find common ground. He loves the Blackhawks, and the Blackhawks love him.”
Donato was selected in the second round of the 2015 draft by the Boston Bruins. Following stints with the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, and Seattle Kraken, Donato signed with the Blackhawks in 2023 on a two-year deal worth $4 million.
Donato, 29, played in 80 games with the Blackhawks last season, earning 62 points via 31 goals and 31 assists.
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David Reinbacher impressed Montreal Canadiens management enough for general manager Kent Hughes to deal fellow right defense prospect Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for sophomore forward Zachary Bolduc. Because of his ability to shut down the rush, cut off checkers at the blueline and then spring a pass or use his feet to skate his way out of trouble consistently, the six-foot-four Austrian defender (despite limited experience on North American ice) has many believers. The idea that Reinbacher and Ivan Demidov could play out their Calder seasons together in 2025-26 doesn't seem so far-fetched, because Reinbacher emerged as the Laval Rocket's top dog on defense, during his first taste of American Hockey League playoff hockey. For the fans that enjoy Kaiden Guhle's responsible style of hockey, and ability to scan and react, breaking potential oddman rushes, thanks to great anticipation, foot speed and defensive details, Reinbacher displays many of those tools. You could argue that Reinbacher has a much higher offensive upside, but in any world where both are playing in your top four defense, as a head coach, you would feel incredibly spoiled with riches. The pair are 23 and 20 years old respectively, so there is significant development leash ahead. There is a very good argument to be made that while Reinbacher looked like an NHL player during the AHL playoffs, he has played just 21 games of North American regular-season professional hockey under his belt, so further seasoning isn't going to overcook the prospect, but ensure he is ready when he makes the jump. However, there are exceptions, and if Reinbacher can follow up his brilliant playoff debut with the Rocket, where he registered six points in 13 games, and emerged as an all-situations defenseman, that head coach Pascal Vincent leaned on for big and important minutes, with a great training camp in the fall, he could put himself on the fast track to the big league. Reinbacher has tremendous upside, and is still learning to use his big frame to punish opponents along the boards and in front of the net, but once he integrates some added physicality and some daring offensive sequences into his game with more regularity, he could put himself and the Canadiens blueline in a great spot to accelerate their rebuild exponentially in 2025-26. The playoffs are the standard for the Canadiens now, regardless of what the media might say, and it wouldn't be wise to suggest to any of the players that the team will regress and achieve anything less than another playoff berth next season. Montreal's 2023 fifth overall selection is hoping to earn his stripes and help push the team beyond the first round, and perhaps further in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Would the New York Yankees still be a heavyweight contender without Aaron Judge? Most fans would doubt it. What comes as a shock is that Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, appears to agree. According to MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY, Cashman had explored the option of selling ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline (6 p.m. EST) if Judge’s flexor strain had turned out to be something worse. Martino wrote this: “[On Saturday], we relayed that the Yankees were floating some of their free-agent-to-be relievers in preliminary trade talks. We have since learned through league sources that last week the Yanks brought up Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt in talks with at least one other club.” It would be strange to see a team with a record well above .500 shop core hitters at the deadline. Both Bellinger and Goldschmidt — hitting .281/.333/.507 with 19 home runs and .283/.341/.419 with eight home runs respectively entering Tuesday — have been valuable producers for the Yankees this year. Goldschmidt signed a one-year deal with the Bronx Bombers over the offseason while Bellinger was acquired via trade with the Cubs. He is signed through 2026 but has a player option at the end of the year. Either player would bring a nice haul back to the Yankees. Of course, the reigning AL MVP’s injury doesn’t seem to be a season-altering, ‘abandon ship’ type of event. Optimistically, Judge should be back soon. But this does serve to illustrate how the team’s success is dependent on one player. Beyond Judge, the Yankees’ batting order doesn’t feature a star-caliber player, or at least a player the lineup can be built around. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, New York lacks enough solid hitters to be considered a worthy contender without Judge. The Yankees’ three bottom-of-the-order hitters — Austin Wells (.214), Anthony Volpe (.213) and newest acquisition Ryan McMahon (.223) — all own batting averages below .230 entering Tuesday. And this doesn’t include J.C. Escarra (.205), Oswald Peraza (.152) or even Ben Rice (.229). If Judge was lost for the season, selling wouldn’t have been a bad idea. He is insoluble glue holding the battered Yankees’ roster together, especially with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt gone for the year. No one on the trade market could replace him, but with Judge coming back, the Yankees might have enough firepower to at least limp to the finish line.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the more bizarre teams heading into the 2025 NFL season. The team has a ton of new pieces, so it is hard to determine just how well it will perform. On paper, the team should be one of the better groups in the AFC, but it will be interesting to watch how everyone ingratiates themselves into the organization, and whether or not the execution is where it needs to be. Regardless of what happens, there are a ton of reasons for excitement in Pittsburgh. The main reason for excitement in Pittsburgh is the new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. There are some other important pieces as well, including DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey. Jonnu Smith is also a new factor on the offense that could play a key role. Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was discussing all of the reasons to be excited about the Steelers on the most recent episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger. He mentioned the new additions, but he also spoke about the overshadowed special teams unit, including Chris Boswell. "I'd say the best kicker in the game, [Chris] Boswell," Roethlisberger said. "Special teams, that gets overlooked so much. You know, we talk about offense, defense, talk about Aaron, talk about TJ [Watt], we talk about all this stuff. What about the best kicker in the game? I know he's not up for a new contract, he should get one. They should actually probably make him the highest-paid kicker if he's not already. So, Omar [Khan], the Khan-Man, should get that done." Boswell signed his most recent extension with the Steelers back ahead of the 2022 season. He signed a four-year deal worth $20 million that runs through the 2026 season. He could be extended now, but Pittsburgh usually waits until before the final year of the contract to get a new extension done. He has been one of the best kickers in the league since joining the Steelers back in 2015, and Roethlisberger thinks he has earned a new deal. In terms of average annual value, Boswell is currently the NFL's 11th highest-paid kicker. He is one of the most efficient and reliable players at the position in the league, and Roethlisberger believes he needs to be at the top of that list. A new contract would likely result in the kicker becoming the highest-paid in the NFL, as he deserves it based on nearly every metric. Boswell led the NFL in field goals made during the 2024 season, and he went 13 of 15 from past 50 yards. His accuracy is unmatched, and he is coming off of his first All-Pro season in 2024. He was often overshadowed in the AFC due to Justin Tucker, but Tucker's career has seemed to fall apart after some off the field issues came to light during the 2025 offseason. Tucker also had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2024, which allowed Boswell to take the title of being the best kicker in the league. Steelers' Chris Boswell Is Searching For More Playoff Success When fans talk about the longest-tenured players on the Steelers, the first name that is always mentioned is Cam Heyward. Rightfully so, but Boswell has also been around Pittsburgh for a long time. He joined the team during the 2015 season, and he immediately solidified himself as the organization's kicker. There have been multiple instances where Pittsburgh has won contests with the only scoring coming from the leg of Boswell, but hopefully the offense can take a step forward in 2025 to take some pressure off of the kicker. Boswell has won in the playoffs with Pittsburgh before, and he is trying to get back to that point in 2025. Would you like to see Boswell get a new deal?
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Calijah Kancey in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they envisioned a game-changing force in the middle of their defensive line. Fast forward to the 2025 training camp, and Kancey is proving why that investment might pay massive dividends. Described as “unblockable” by those watching Bucs’ camp closely, Kancey’s rapid development and potential breakout season provide hope for a Buccaneers defense that has struggled to generate consistent pressure from the front four in recent years. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Calijah Kancey’s NFL Career Calijah Kancey’s professional career has shown flashes of brilliance despite battling injuries that hindered his first two seasons. Across 26 games, Kancey logged 11.5 sacks, an impressive 21 tackles for loss, and a total of 39 quarterback pressures. His ability to penetrate the offensive line and disrupt plays in the backfield has not gone unnoticed. What’s more, Kancey achieved 7.5 sacks in 2024, leading the Buccaneers’ defense in that category. However, consistency has been an issue, largely due to his availability. Calf injuries have kept Kancey out of eight starts and caused him to leave other games prematurely. Staying healthy remains the first step in his leap from “impactful” to “dominant.” According to Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, keeping Kancey on the field is paramount, with the coaching staff carefully monitoring his workload during camp to reduce injury risk. While Kancey’s production as a pass rusher has been promising, his run defense has been an area needing refinement. Per Pro Football Focus, Kancey earned a run defense grade of 36.2 in 2024, ranking 199th out of 219 qualified defensive linemen. His missed tackle rate also rose from 3.7% in 2023 to 6.7% in 2024, suggesting that improving technique and consistency could take his game to another level. Training Camp Buzz: “Unblockable” on the Field Training camp is where futures are shaped, and Kancey isn’t just taking part; he’s taking over. Reports have described him as “unblockable” during drills, with analysts like Pete Prisco of CBS Sports hinting at a possible All-Pro season for the third-year defensive tackle. Veteran teammates such as Vita Vea have taken notice of Kancey’s progression, with Vea praising his work ethic and stating, “I expect big things from him.” What makes Kancey particularly dangerous is his blend of speed and agility at the point of attack. At 6’0” and 280 pounds, his smaller frame for an interior lineman might initially seem like a disadvantage, but he leverages it into a quick first step that routinely leaves offensive linemen off-balance. Kancey’s dedication to refining his technique is also paying dividends. “I know [with] me being an undersized guy, I can’t afford to lack technique,” Kancey admitted. This self-awareness is making him a more effective—and dangerous—presence on the line. The coaching staff is equally optimistic. Defensive line coach Charlie Strong appreciates the energy and effort Kancey brings every day, noting how those traits align with the defensive scheme they hope to deploy this season. Combining veteran experience with youthful explosiveness, Tampa Bay might finally have a complete defensive line capable of dictating games. What Kancey’s Rise Means for the Bucs The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made no secret of their desire to improve their pass rush without relying on heavy blitzing. Last season, the lack of consistent pressure forced Bowles to take risks with his secondary, leaving them exposed against quality quarterbacks. If Kancey continues to dominate in the trenches, the ripple effects on the Bucs’ defense could be massive. Enhancing the Defensive Line Kancey’s emergence allows the Buccaneers to deploy more creative looks on the defensive line. His ability to generate pressure from the interior opens opportunities for edge rushers to thrive. Additionally, his partnership with Vita Vea provides a formidable one-two punch that can collapse pockets and force quarterbacks into hurried decisions. The addition of rookie Elijah Roberts further bolsters the unit, offering even more depth and versatility. With a cohesive and productive front four, Tampa Bay could finally challenge opposing offensive lines effectively, giving its defense the edge needed to stay competitive in the NFC South. Supporting the Secondary A better pass rush benefits everyone, including the secondary. Last season, the Buccaneers’ cornerbacks and safeties often had to hold coverage for extended periods, leading to breakdowns against top-tier offenses. If Kancey and the defensive line can disrupt plays early, the secondary will have a much more manageable task. Furthermore, a dominant interior disruptor like Kancey can wreak havoc on third-and-long situations, where offenses are forced to take risks. By winning on early downs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can control the pace of games and dictate terms defensively, a hallmark of Bowles’ philosophy. Momentum in a Pivotal Season For a team that finds itself at a crossroads following the Tom Brady era, Kancey’s rise represents hope for the next chapter of Buccaneers football. Tampa Bay’s aspirations for a playoff berth depend heavily on the defense not only holding its own but also becoming a consistent game-changing unit. Calijah Kancey’s breakout potential aligns with this timeline, and his growth could spark a cultural shift emphasizing relentless effort and disciplined execution. For teammates and fans alike, watching Kancey dominate in training camp is a reminder of what’s possible when potential meets preparation. Challenges Ahead Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Kancey’s health is a critical factor, and his ability to improve against the run will be closely scrutinized. NFL offenses will undoubtedly test his durability and technique in ways training camp cannot replicate. Additionally, while training camp success is promising, translating that dominance to regular-season competition is the ultimate test. Can Kancey consistently disrupt elite offensive lines? Can he play a full season without setbacks? These questions will define not only Kancey’s individual success but also the Buccaneers’ defensive trajectory. Final Thoughts Calijah Kancey’s buzzworthy training camp performance isn’t just encouraging—it’s potentially game-changing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His ability to stay healthy and elevate his game this season could transform a Tampa Bay defense eager to reclaim its dominance. From starting as a promising rookie to potentially becoming a centerpiece of the Bucs’ front-four resurgence, Kancey’s rise is a storyline to watch closely. If his training camp performances are a sign of things to come, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might just have their breakout star—and a brighter defensive future to look forward to.