The very reason Dominic Toninato refused to sign with Toronto is why the Minnesota native is not eligible to play for Team USA at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The Leafs only offered Toninato an American Hockey League contract last summer, so he chose to play the “college card” and become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 16.
Toninato, a four-year Minnesota-Duluth standout who served as team captain last season as a senior, eventually signed his NHL entry-level contract with the Avalanche, a move that eliminated his Olympic eligibility. At the time, Toninato wasn’t thinking ahead to the Olympics.