Bruins add Olympian Donato ahead of game vs. Blue Jackets

The Boston Bruins added former Harvard star and U.S. Olympian Ryan Donato on Monday, giving them some depth on a roster hit hard by injuries.

Donato, who signed a two-year entry level contract with the Bruins on Sunday, was the 56th overall pick in the 2014 draft.

He's expected to play left wing on a line with Noel Acciari and Brian Gionta and will also see some time on the power play," the team tweeted.

He'll be available for Monday's showdown against the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets, who visit Boston having won seven straight.

Donato, 21, played alongside Gionta in the 2018 Winter Olympics and tied for the overall goal lead with five. He led all U.S. players with six total points in their five Olympic matches.

The Bruins are currently without Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy and Jake DeBrusk and they lost David Backes to a leg laceration that needed 18 stitches against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

The Bruins, despite all the injuries, are just four points behind Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference standings.

In three seasons at Harvard, Donato finished with 60 goals and 44 assists in 97 games.

He'll wear No. 17 for the Bruins.

--Field Level Media