Making the most of every opportunity

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This article was published 04/01/2024 (687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Dominic Toninato knows exactly what he signed up for, so he’s not about to complain about his lot in life.

When you’ve spent the bulk of your professional career as a bubble player, there are literally and figuratively going to be ups and downs.

Frequent stops on the transaction wire, demotions and subsequent promotions.

It can be an uneasy place to reside, if you let it, and the emotional swings are not always easy to comprehend.

“Honestly, I’ve been pretty used to it for most of my career,” said Toninato, whose Winnipeg Jets take on the San Jose Sharks Thursday night. “You take it a day at a time. It’s crazy, but it’s literally a day at a time. Just try to make the most of each day and whatever happens happens.”

That’s not to say it’s always been smooth sailing for Toninato while going from suiting up in a career-high 77 games for the Jets during the 2021-22 season to appearing in five NHL contests last season.

The Jets brought in several forwards via trade, free-agent signings and waiver claims during that span and Toninato sort of got lost in the shuffle, moving down the depth chart a few pegs.

It would be natural to question your place in the organizational puzzle when something like this transpires, yet Toninato chose to focus on his own game instead and relish the additional ice time provided to him in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose.

“I mean, it creeps in,” said Toninato, 29, who signed a two-year deal with the Jets during the offseason. “Obviously, everyone wants to be with the big club and playing. But you’ve got to take the positives out of everything. Down there, being able to work on my game and playing minutes I normally wouldn’t play, situations I wouldn’t play, you take advantage of that and keep working on the game.”

The positive for Toninato spending an extended period of time with the Moose last season is that he played an enhanced role and was used in more offensive situations. He responded with his most productive season as a professional, tallying 19 goals and recording 35 points in 50 AHL games.

“I’ve always been taught, right from the start of my pro career, that faceoffs can get you a job in this league.”–Dominic Toninato

That confidence boost has translated to the NHL level, as he started the club’s three-game road trip riding a four-game point streak on a highly effective fourth line with Morgan Barron and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby.

During that span, the Duluth, Minn., product quickly earned the trust of Jets head coach Rick Bowness, who has leaned on him some nights to take key defensive-zone draws and even threw him over the boards to protect a one-goal lead against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon.

“I’ve always been taught, right from the start of my pro career, that faceoffs can get you a job in this league,” said Toninato. “It’s such a huge part of the game. You want to have that possession and you want to win those big ones in the (defensive) zone and not give them the offence. When things are going good, the confidence is up and you keep rolling.”

This recent run of strong play includes delivering the game-winning goal against Marc-Andre Fleury in his 1,000th NHL game.

“It’s always nice to contribute, especially in the hometown, in front of family, it was extra special,” said Toninato. “Big night for (Fleury). Really good (goaltender), going into the Hall of Fame, so that’s just a little cherry on top I guess.”

Toninato is doing what he can to solidify his current spot on the depth chart, but there’s no guarantee he stays in the lineup when the Jets get healthy.

For Bowness, this falls under the scenario of being a good problem to have — since having more than enough quality players at your disposal is better than the alternative.

“It’s always nice to contribute, especially in the hometown, in front of family, it was extra special.”–Dominic Toninato

That doesn’t make it any easier to determine which player (or players) come out when they’ve otherwise played well enough to stay in the lineup.

“That’s a tough situation. But it’s a situation that a coach doesn’t mind. Because that means we are playing really well but we have to make some tough decisions,” said Bowness. “Because the flip side of that is this is an easy decision — they’re not playing well so they are coming out. This is an easy exchange. I like the fact that these guys are putting pressure on the injured guys and they’re playing really well and they’re showing us they don’t deserve to come out of the lineup. I like that. That’s internal competition.”

Bowness understands the value of depth for an organization that has lofty goals and that’s why he was happy to see Toninato stay in the system.

“Listen, he’s a strong organizational player. He is. That’s why we wanted him back in the organization,” said Bowness. “He never complains when he gets sent down and he’s one of the hardest workers. He’s a great role model for all the young players when he’s playing for the Manitoba Moose.

“But he’s an experienced guy. He knows how to play and he knows how to stay within his game. He knows what he’s good at and he stays within that game. He plays to his strengths. He’s reliable. He’s doing all of the little things that that line needs to do.”

By doing them, Toninato continues to provide a blueprint on the best way to handle things as a bubble player.

“He’s just a great professional. He obviously waited a long time to get back into the lineup here and right from the first game, he’s made some great plays and played great hockey,” said Barron, noting Toninato was one of the players who made him feel comfortable after he was acquired by the Jets in the trade with the New York Rangers at the trade deadline in 2022.

“I like the fact that these guys are putting pressure on the injured guys and they’re playing really well and they’re showing us they don’t deserve to come out of the lineup.”–Head coach Rick Bowness

“I feel like he’s fit in seamlessly and it’s a testament to our depth that we have a guy like that who needs to wait for an opportunity, but he’s obviously made the most of it.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld