I'm keeping Toro. His size alone is special and the Blues are too easy to push around as it is. I like his drive to the net also. He's a 4th liner. I don't have big expectations of him. Why trade him? He's huge and has good speed and can hit. What more do you want from him?
John Cocktoastin wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 14:21 pm
He has the rare combination of size and speed. 81st percentile. He can fly for as big as he is. And hit.
He just has trouble finishing (shooting % = 7.7%). He needs to work on that.
Until then, not sure those phones will be ringing for him.
He’s been like that his whole career. I think it is what it is.
If you can get someone to give you a 5th you run like you stole it.
As someone said earlier, doesn’t move the needle at all. You don’t clear cap and who needs a 5th or later. Blues need quality prospects and high picks. You get neither here.
John Cocktoastin wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 14:21 pm
He has the rare combination of size and speed. 81st percentile. He can fly for as big as he is. And hit.
He just has trouble finishing (shooting % = 7.7%). He needs to work on that.
Until then, not sure those phones will be ringing for him.
He’s been like that his whole career. I think it is what it is.
If you can get someone to give you a 5th you run like you stole it.
About 33% of 5th round draft picks play at least 1 NHL game, and 15% play at least 100 NHL games (so, roughly a 15% chance that you’ll get a regular NHL player). Toro is a guaranteed NHL player. A 5th round pick does absolutely nothing to help the Blues.
John Cocktoastin wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 14:21 pm
He has the rare combination of size and speed. 81st percentile. He can fly for as big as he is. And hit.
He just has trouble finishing (shooting % = 7.7%). He needs to work on that.
Until then, not sure those phones will be ringing for him.
He’s been like that his whole career. I think it is what it is.
If you can get someone to give you a 5th you run like you stole it.
About 33% of 5th round draft picks play at least 1 NHL game, and 15% play at least 100 NHL games (so, roughly a 15% chance that you’ll get a regular NHL player). Toro is a guaranteed NHL player. A 5th round pick does absolutely nothing to help the Blues.
All that may be true, I’m just saying good luck getting anyone to give you more than that.
John Cocktoastin wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 14:21 pm
He has the rare combination of size and speed. 81st percentile. He can fly for as big as he is. And hit.
He just has trouble finishing (shooting % = 7.7%). He needs to work on that.
Until then, not sure those phones will be ringing for him.
He’s been like that his whole career. I think it is what it is.
If you can get someone to give you a 5th you run like you stole it.
About 33% of 5th round draft picks play at least 1 NHL game, and 15% play at least 100 NHL games (so, roughly a 15% chance that you’ll get a regular NHL player). Toro is a guaranteed NHL player. A 5th round pick does absolutely nothing to help the Blues.
Ziggy3 wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 13:00 pm
I'm starting to think Toropchenko might be the most overrated player to have ever worn the Bluenote...
I think he's one of the most underrated. If you put him on a line with real skill, I could easily see Torop being a 20G/20A player.
This right here is what I feel like I've been hearing for a few seasons now. I just don't see it. Like, at all. Blues coaches don't seem to either.
He is the one of the most straight-line players I think I've ever seen. He is big, and he has wheels, but it's all in a straight line forward. Poor hands and poor agility, and this makes him pretty bad on the cycle. He's somewhat physical, but you rarely see him punish people with hits, I think probably more because of his lack of agility than willingness to do so. Decently hard shot (I guess?), but little accuracy and no real talent for getting to open spots or any real offensive IQ to speak of. All hallmarks of an ok 4th-liner.
He is a decent penalty killer, I'll give him that.
John Cocktoastin wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 14:21 pm
He has the rare combination of size and speed. 81st percentile. He can fly for as big as he is. And hit.
He just has trouble finishing (shooting % = 7.7%). He needs to work on that.
Until then, not sure those phones will be ringing for him.
He’s been like that his whole career. I think it is what it is.
If you can get someone to give you a 5th you run like you stole it.
About 33% of 5th round draft picks play at least 1 NHL game, and 15% play at least 100 NHL games (so, roughly a 15% chance that you’ll get a regular NHL player). Toro is a guaranteed NHL player. A 5th round pick does absolutely nothing to help the Blues.
Those numbers are better then I thought but I still wouldn't trade Toro for anything close to a 5th. I'm keeping Toro.
Frank Underwood wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 12:59 pm
The fact that those guys were even talking about it is reason enough not to listen to that show. I like Toropchenko, but trading him doesn’t move the needle at all, so why even bring it up.
Sports radio in general is some of the least entertaining information possible but these guys take it to a new level.
I do not listen to Sports Talk Radio, except when the Blues are on TV. But I will say it sounds like this episode had some relevant hockey discussion.
LGB73 wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025 15:38 pm
He's never notched 20 goals in a season at any level but suddenly going to be a 20g/20a guy in the NHL?
He's got 31 goals in 271 NHL games. He's a 4th liner with size and speed. That's the ceiling not the floor.
I just don't see trading him unless it's at least a 3rd liner and the Blues don't plan on resigning him. Nobody expects him to put in many goals. He's quick and punishing, a perfect 4th liner. He's been part of an effective 4th line since he's been on the team. Yes, he's much more replaceable than 2nd or 3rd line center but why.
It's an easy target for a trade because his contract status and the fact that some may look to add him for the physicality and occasionally chipping in with some goals. No shot in the world he's a 20/20 unless you play him with McDavid level talent, and you could get more from someone else. I think with a 3rd line role exclusively he's a 25-30 point guy, as a 4th liner he's a 15-25 depending on who he is with. He's not the guy that finds the back of the net a ton, he's the guy that wins the puck in a tough area and the result is a chance at goal and a chance at points type.