Round 5 Pick 126 – C Dominic Toninato
With the 126th pick of the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected centreman Dominic Toninato from Minnesota Duluth East highschool.
following his selection, Toninato would commit to University of Minnesota Duluth, where he would blossom as a player over four seasons. Sports Forecaster describes Toninato as the following,
"“A two-way centre with a solid frame (6’2″), [Toninato] is a solid [centreman] who can be used in pressure situations to win face-offs in the defensive zone, kill penalties and be on ice late in hockey games. Will always have trouble producing consistent offense at the highest level. [Also lacks] ideal playmaking skills from the [centre] position. Must get stronger on the puck to succeed in the pro game.”"
The aforementioned consistency issues would plague the Duluth native throughout his career. Over his 151 game NCAA career, the two-way centre would score 91 points, which is solid, but included a low 15 points (2013-14) and a high 29 points (2016-17).
Toninato spent the past two seasons in the Colorado Avalanche organization, whom signed him to an ELC in 2017 after going unsigned by the Leafs.
The defensive centre would appear in 39 games with the Avalanche, scoring a measly three points. Toninato would also score 41 points in 88 AHL games with the Colorado Eagles.
Just before the start of free agency, Toninato’s RFA rights was traded to the Florida Panthers for star AHL defenseman Jacob MacDonald. Shortly after, Toninato was signed to a one-year, two-way contract by the Panthers.
Currently 25, I expect Toninato to make the Panthers next year and be a rotation player.