Just when the Bruins appeared done adding to the roster that will compete for a Stanley Cup this spring, they add the organization’s most exciting prospect to the picture.

Eliminated from the ECAC tournament this past Friday, putting an end to Harvard’s championship hopes, Bruins prospect Ryan Donato has decided to officially embark on his pro career by way of a two-year, entry-level contract with the Bruins.

“We just worked through what looked like the opportunity he was looking for and we were happy to provide that,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. “We have some injuries, we’re at the point in the season where every game has a lot on the line and I think his being able to go over and have success at the Olympics this year really started to jumpstart his thought process that he was ready for the next challenge.”

And in the theme of wasting no time, the 21-year-old Hobey Baker finalist could be in an NHL lineup Monday when the Bruins play host to the Blue Jackets at TD Garden. Largely thanks to the Bruins’ injury woes that have left them without Patrice Bergeron (broken foot), Jake DeBrusk (upper-body), and now David Backes (leg laceration).

“I think Ryan might have looked at it as an even bigger opportunity for him to go in and possibly play as early as tomorrow,” Sweeney said when asked if the club’s recent injury woes played a factor in the Donato decision. “We had always been committed to providing the opportunity to Ryan if and when he decided to leave school. I think the two things just kind of lined up accordingly. We definitely are cognizant that the injuries are there, and they’ve mounted a little bit here coming down the stretch.”

The jump right to the Big B’s comes after Donato, a second-round pick in 2014, posted 26 goals and 43 points in 29 games for the Crimson this season, and scored five goals in a six-game run with Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

But with it also being too late in the year for Donato to join the Providence Bruins, this is the only avenue for the Scituate, Mass. native to get his pro feet wet this year. And it couldn’t come at a better time, with Donato jumping right into the pace of a stretch run.

“My expectations are that he’ll get his feet wet and show us what he can do at this level. We’re not going to put any pressure on him to say, ‘You have to produce,’’” Sweeney said. “It’s like every player; he’s going to be another player that the coach will have an opportunity to play in situations, and the player themselves dictate how much time and circumstances they play in.

"We feel that, if we get healthy, we’re going to have a deep group, and he’s going to add to that group. Then, it’s up to him. We hope that we do get healthy, but we have a lot of games here still upcoming. We haven’t clinched anything, so we’ve got work ahead of us, and he’s going to add to that depth of our group.”

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