Observations:

July 2015 – Matt Donovan signs a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres, Donovan could battle for a spot on the everyday roster in training camp, but likely will be part of the Amerks roster when the season starts. Paul Zwambag

May 2015 – Donovan is coming off an extremely frustrating year where he is set to become an UFA. He played only 12 games as he was routinely the seventh defenseman in Capuano’s odd playing system and could not be sent down due to being eligible for waivers. He looked very rusty in his two playoffs games, playing limited minutes, with some glaring turnovers. He is skilled offensively and needs to play on a consistent basis in order to show what he can do. In 2013-2014 viewings I thought he played well for the Isles. Hopefully he can either get a consistent spot in the Islanders top six, or he signs with a team willing to give him a shot. Pat Quinn

June 2014 – Donovan scored two goals in eight World Championship games for the USA but the team was unable to bring home a medal after being eliminated in the semi finals. Brad Wilson

May 2014 – Donovan will play for the USA at the World Championships. This will cap a successful year in which he posted 21 points in 27 AHL games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and put up 16 points in 52 games for the Islanders averaging 18:04 in ice time with 1:39 on the power play. Brad Wilson

February 2014 – Donovan has been sent down and called back up so many times in the past few months that he must be feeling a bit like a yo-yo. Playing in his third game for the Sound Tigers since arriving on February 8th, the Isles defender has scored three times in that span, including a two goal effort in a big 5-2 win over the Springfield Falcons. Donovan is now one point shy of ninth place in the Bridgeport history books for points. He has 15 points in 19 games this season and 113 points in 172 games overall wearing a Sound Tigers jersey. Brad Wilson

January 2014 – Donovan will once again join the big club as he has been recalled from Bridgeport. Brad Wilson

November 2013 – Donovan has been loaned to Bridgeport of the AHL. He has posted one goal and five points through 22 games this season for the Islanders. Brad Wilson

October 2013 – The Islanders will carry eight defensemen to start the regular season and Donovan will be one of them. The rookie will get a chance to show he belongs while adding some offensive talent from the back-end. Brad Wilson

September 2013 – Donovan has played in two pre-season games thus far and has been paired with veteran Andrew MacDonald. It looked like the Isles were just trying to get Donovan some time along-side a savvy vet but he has now been moved to the veteran practice roster suggesting he may be in line to crack the big club. Donovan may be too good for the AHL at this point and if he can continue to handle the physical challenge associated with the NHL jump, he should be an Islander come October 1st. Brad Wilson

September 2013 – Donovan finished the AHL season last year ranked 3^rd in team points and 1^st among defensemen with 48 points in 75 games. The AHL Allstar was rewarded by dressing in the Islanders final three regular season games. Donovan has good foot speed and sports an accurate shot, adding to the glut of offensive up-and-coming defensemen the Islanders are developing. After two stellar seasons in the AHL the 23 year old will look to crack the NHL lineup as he enters his contract year. Donovan becomes a RFA on July 1. Brad Wilson

March 2013 – The Isles were smart to give Donovan another year in the AHL, as he's added even more sandpaper to an already gritty game. He's also been allowed to further develop his puck-moving skills and he'll ride that confidence into the 2013-14 season. Potentially he could be a 35-point, 100-PIM blueliner down the road. Dobber

September 2012 – Matt Donovan is a talented offensive defenseman who should be on your fantasy radar by now. He is a very good skater with great puck-moving skills; but more importantly he has an opportunity to move up the depth chart quickly. Mark Streit and Lubomir Visnovsky are both entering the final years of their contracts and it would be reasonable to think that one or both will move on to a different team next summer providing Donovan with more opportunity. Donovan is coming off of an excellent season with Bridgeport of the AHL where he collected 45 points in 72 games and finished plus-11 with 63 penalty minutes. Moving forward, he should settle in as a solid secondary point producer with first power-play pairing potential. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook: B-

Donovan owns good upside with good roto-league potential and is considered NHL-ready.

Footage:

Matt Donovan 2012-13 highlights

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