Confirmed with Link: Toropchenko Extended 1 Y 1.7Mil

[Linkens Mastery]

Blues sign Toropchenko to 1-year extension | St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the team has signed forward Alexey Toropchenko to a one-year contract extension worth $1.7 million. Toropchenko, 25, was originally drafted by the Blues in the fourth round, No. 113...

www.nhl.com

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[Majorityof1]

Overpay by about 50%, but it's a small number so whatever

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Not an “overpay”.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

I think it’s a touch too high considering he hasn’t been as effective this year as he has been in the past. But its a 1 year deal, so it doesn’t really matter.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I’m curious why they went with a one year deal.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I’m curious why they went with a one year deal.

Have you seen enough from Torp to definitively want him on the team for the 2026-27 season?

I haven't.

 

[TheOrganist]

Agreed. He's fine...not great, fine. Glad they didn't give him something like 3-year term. Serviceable but easily replaceable.

 

[Brian39]

$1.7M is a bit higher than I expected. I like the player, that isn't a massive number, and I'm happy that we're taking another potential retaliatory offer sheet candidate off the board. But I was not expecting a $450k raise given the role he's playing.

I’m curious why they went with a one year deal.

A 2 year deal would have walked him straight to UFA. The player likely had zero interest in signing a 3+ year deal without a much larger raise in AAV. 1 year makes a lot of sense to me.

As pointed out by @tfriede2 this deal does walk him straight to UFA. I now share the curiosity about going with a 1 year deal.

 

[Majorityof1]

Let's ignire what I think of Toropchenko. Let's look at what the coaching staff thinks based on how much they play him.

He has been healthy scratched 2 out of 9 games. When he does play his AToI is the 13th most minutes of any Blues forwards. Reminder there are only 12 of those at any time.

He is clearly between our 12th to 14th forward based on usage when we are healthy. The only player he is definitely above is Walker. He is fighting with Bolduc and Perunovich to not be sent down when we are back to 100%. How is that worth more than the max buriable contract?

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Let's ignire what I think of Toropchenko. Let's look at what the coaching staff thinks based on how much they play him.

He has been healthy scratched 2 out of 9 games. When he does play his AToI is the 13th most minutes of any Blues forwards. Reminder there are only 12 of those at any time.

He is clearly between our 12th to 14th forward based on usage when we are healthy. The only player he is definitely above is Walker. He is fighting with Bolduc and Perunovich to not be sent down when we are back to 100%. How is that worth more than the max buriable contract?

Torp missed the Carolina and Winnipeg games with a lower body injury. He wasn't a healthy scratch.

But I do agree that this isn't a player that we need to save a spot for in our future plans. I just don't see it.

 

[Majorityof1]

Torp missed the Carolina and Winnipeg games with a lower body injury. He wasn't a healthy scratch.

But I do agree that this isn't a player that we need to save a spot for in our future plans. I just don't see it.

Good call. I forgot he was injured. Still doesn't change my thoughts, but does weaken my argument a bit. The TOI is still telling.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I'm fine with it. I don't like long term contracts for bottom pair/4th line talent. So I'm cool with the length.

 

[BleedBlue14]

Feels like Armstrong didn’t want to strap Steen with a financial responsibility to Torpo assuming he goes in and out of the press box in the future. That’s pretty much what a slight over pay for a shorter term is telling me in our current situation.

 

[Mike Liut]

He’s the perfect 4th liner. I want him here for the next 7-8 years.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Perfect 4th liner, but I now agree that it is a tad too high. It’s ok, though.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Let's ignire what I think of Toropchenko. Let's look at what the coaching staff thinks based on how much they play him.

He has been healthy scratched 2 out of 9 games. When he does play his AToI is the 13th most minutes of any Blues forwards. Reminder there are only 12 of those at any time.

He is clearly between our 12th to 14th forward based on usage when we are healthy. The only player he is definitely above is Walker. He is fighting with Bolduc and Perunovich to not be sent down when we are back to 100%. How is that worth more than the max buriable contract?

I’m not sure the answer to your question, but I think he has a more consistent work ethic and standard of effort than some of the alternatives. It doesn’t directly translate to stats, but maybe it’s a positive for the team’s psyche?

He was pretty pissed when they were sliding at the end of the season 2 years ago, one of the few guys who seemed to give a damn.

 

[Majorityof1]

I’m not sure the answer to your question, but I think he has a more consistent work ethic and standard of effort than some of the alternatives. It doesn’t directly translate to stats, but maybe it’s a positive for the team’s psyche?

He was pretty pissed when they were sliding at the end of the season 2 years ago, one of the few guys who seemed to give a damn.

Others gave a damn. He was the only one dumb enough to throw his teammates under the bus in the media while being a low-skill grinder. That should not be rewarded. That is not a positive for the team psyche. The team didn't magically turn it around and praise him. Armstrong and Berube had a talk with him and made excuses for his difficulty with the language.

Maybe he does have a great work ethic, but if it doesn't translate to results, who cares? Fans have zero clue about work ethic and assign it or lack of it to players for arbitrary reasons.

 

[BlueDream]

Meh on this signing. I’m not a fan and would rather see someone else on the 4th line for cheaper. As much as everyone raves about his size and speed, I don’t see the impact from it. I don’t think he’s very noticeable at all for the most part, but management and coaching seems to like him.

 

[Brian39]

Let's ignire what I think of Toropchenko. Let's look at what the coaching staff thinks based on how much they play him.

He has been healthy scratched 2 out of 9 games. When he does play his AToI is the 13th most minutes of any Blues forwards. Reminder there are only 12 of those at any time.

He is clearly between our 12th to 14th forward based on usage when we are healthy. The only player he is definitely above is Walker. He is fighting with Bolduc and Perunovich to not be sent down when we are back to 100%. How is that worth more than the max buriable contract?

I don't really agree that the ice time equates to him being clearly between our 12th and 14th forward. As mentioned, he's missed games dealing with injury and not as a healthy scratch decision. While his ATOI is 'outside the top 12,' I think that is more a result of the coaches using him as a consistent bottom 6 grinder role while trying to plug other holes with other guys.

He hasn't had a single game as our least-used forward. He's had more games in the top 9 of TOI than games where he has been 11th.

I don't see anything to suggest that he will be getting pushed out of a fully healthy lineup.

Sunny's average TOI in his 3 games is more than Torpo's season-long average, but that is mostly driven by the number of injuries we've had since Sunny got back. Torpo's ice time is also up in those 3 games. Torpo outplayed Sunny in 2 of those 3 games and is averaging about 50 seconds a night more than Sunny in those 3 games.

Kappy's ATOI is higher on the season, but that is simply due to the ice time he got in the top 9 while Saad was out to try and plug that hole. Since Saad's return, Torpo has been outplying Kappy by 1:30 a night (not counting last night's game since Kappy left with injury).

I see his ATOI lagging outside the top 12 because Bannister has him firmly entrenched into a bottom 6 role. Meanwhile, while his role has remainied constant, we have a couple other guys who bounce in and out of the lineup and/or see wild fluctuations in ice time based on who else is healthy.

I'm surprised about the dollar amount and I think he needs to improve his play. But his usage so far tells me that Bannister views him and Faksa as staple bottom 6 players who are going to maintain that role if/when the forward group is fully healthy.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Others gave a damn. He was the only one dumb enough to throw his teammates under the bus in the media while being a low-skill grinder. That should not be rewarded. That is not a positive fir the team psyche. The ream didn't magically turn it around and praise him. Armstrong and Berube had a talk with him and make excuses for his difficulty with the language.

Maybe he does have a great work ethic, but if it doesn't translate to results, who cares? Fans have zero clue about work ethic and assign it or lack of it to platers for arbitrary reasons.

Ok, didn’t realize you were grinding an axe against him. I was offering a suggestion for why the front office may value him more than his obvious measurables suggest.

That said, a one year contract doesn’t move the needle much at all. I really don’t care about someone being slightly overpaid on a single season contract. They team is just paying for the flexibility to not bring the player back.

 

[Majorityof1]

Ok, didn’t realize you were grinding an axe against him. I was offering a suggestion for why the front office may value him more than his obvious measurables suggest.

That said, a one year contract doesn’t move the needle much at all. I really don’t care about someone being slightly overpaid on a single season contract. They team is just paying for the flexibility to not bring the player back.

I wasn't grinding an axe. I tried to be objective and base my argument on his usage. I reached a similar conclusion about the contract, its low enough and short enough, it doesn't matter. But it's absolutely an overpay. I additted that he may even be a hard-working, heart of the team guy. We just don't gave enough evidence of that

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I wasn't grinding an axe. I tried to be objective and base my argument on his usage. I reached a similar conclusion about the contract, its low enough and short enough, it doesn't matter. But it's absolutely an overpay. I additted that he may even be a hard-working, heart of the team guy. We just don't gave enough evidence of that

Maybe “we” don’t, but I do. Frankly I feel it’s pretty obvious.

4th liners, that’s not always enough to justify their roster spot, but it breaks ties.

 

[Majorityof1]

Maybe “we” don’t, but I do. Frankly I feel it’s pretty obvious.

4th liners, that’s not always enough to justify their roster spot, but it breaks ties.

Well, agree to disagree.

Not even disagree. I don't discount Toropchenko could be a hard worker. I just don't know enough to know. I've seen a ton of posters extrapolate effort based solely on physical play and often on undisciplined play. Not saying that's the case. But effort and heart are shown in practice and in the locker room. I'm not privy to those places so I can't say.

Obviously the ones who see those things thought enough if him to sign ihim to a good contract, so maybe you are right.

 

[tfriede2]

$1.7M is a bit higher than I expected. I like the player, that isn't a massive number, and I'm happy that we're taking another potential retaliatory offer sheet candidate off the board. But I was not expecting a $450k raise given the role he's playing.



A 2 year deal would have walked him straight to UFA. The player likely had zero interest in signing a 3+ year deal without a much larger raise in AAV. 1 year makes a lot of sense to me.

He’ll be a UFA when the extension expires (he’ll be 27 by June 30 of the last year ). Capwages incorrectly states that he’ll be an RFA. Blues contract page shows that he’ll be a UFA.

 

[Brian39]

He’ll be a UFA when the extension expires (he’ll be 27 by June 30 of the last year ). Capwages incorrectly states that he’ll be an RFA. Blues contract page shows that he’ll be a UFA.

Good catch. I think I read his birthday as July 25 instead of June 25 because I wasn't using Capwages.