Avalanche season grades: Dominic Toninato

Dominic Toninato had his rookie season in 2017-18 with the Avalanche. Let’s review it and give it a final grade:

Overview

Drafted originally by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012, Dominic Toninato never signed with the Leafs and became an unrestricted free agent following his college career at Minnesota-Duluth. The Avs signed him, and he started the season with San Antonio of the AHL.

He was called up by the Avs on Nov. 18, and he played his first career NHL game that night in Nashville. Toninato would play 37 games for the Avs when all was said and done, playing a fourth-line checker role, mostly at center. The offensive numbers in those 37 games? Not so good.

Zero goals, two assists.

That made, for me anyway, Toninato’s initial season something of a disappointment. No, you can’t expect big numbers from a fourth-line guy who only plays 8-10 minutes a game. But two points in 37 games is just not good. If he is to have a lengthy NHL career, he’s obviously going to have to put the puck in the net once in a while.

The better news? Toninato showed himself to be a willing, physical forechecker who played a responsible defensive game. He’s a pretty fast skater for a big guy. He didn’t embarrass himself out there. But, yeah, the name of the game is putting pucks in the net too. Hopefully, for his sake, he’ll get that first goal this coming season.

Biggest Moment

In his second career game, Nov. 19 in Detroit, Toninato got one of his two points, an assist in a win over the Red Wings. So, that definitely qualifies as his biggest moment.

I know he was thrilled to play his first game in his native Minnesota too, Nov. 24.

What’s Next

Because he came out of college as a UFA, Toninato’s entry-level NHL contract can last only two years. So, this will be Year 2.

He’ll make $ 925,000, pro-rated or otherwise, anytime he plays for the Avs. If he plays for the Colorado Eagles, the Avs’ new AHL affiliate, he’ll make $70,000.

Final Grade

C-

Toninato is an exceedingly agreeable kid who seems like he wants to have a real NHL career. So, I’m not at all ready to start tossing dirt on that prospect. But he needs to find a way to play with the puck more, and find ways to produce more tangible offense with it.

Let’s see what he can do, now that he knows better how the NHL game works. There is still time for him to prove himself.