Sheng Peng
Tyler Toffoli has “old man game”.
That’s a compliment, I swear.
In basketball, it’s game that “depends far less on athleticism and more on impeccable footwork, strength and trickery.”
“There’s always that sort of player in the NHL, not that athletic, not that fast, when you watch him in the game, it’s not like one area where he [stands out],” Nico Sturm said of his new teammate. “But at the end of the day, you get the scoresheet back, he’s got two apples. That’s the type of player he is.”
“He’s really smart,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, of the San Jose Sharks’ prize free agency signing this off-season.
Here are some of my favorite examples of Toffoli’s “old man game” to start the 2024-25 season (all video from SportContract)…and how it can help the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith and William Eklund and company.
The Sharks signed the 32-year-old to the richest contract that they’ve ever given an outside free agent, a four-year, $24 million deal with a complete No-Trade Clause for three seasons.
San Jose gave Toffoli that contract for his scoring: From 2020 to 2024, Toffoli averaged 1.43 Goals Per 60, 22nd of 279 forwards (3,000-plus minutes). In the last two years, he’s scored 67 goals, maybe with more brains than beauty.
Notice Toffoli (73) pivot at the exact moment that defenseman Nolan Allan (42) is moving in to cover him on Oct. 17 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Allan goes tumbling, giving the now wide-open Toffoli a tap-in off the Eklund (72) pass.
“He skated into me. I was just moving my body to get more positioning to score a goal. So if anything, that was on him,” Toffoli said…wink wink? “It ended up being an easy goal. I don’t think anything was necessarily intentional. I was just trying to get open.”
Right.
After a quick start this season, with six goals in his first 11 games, Toffoli has gone scoreless in his last six, but he’s still creating chances for himself.
This was on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“Smart with his puck decisions. I like him on the walls,” Warsofsky said. “He can make plays and not panic, because he’s got the experience of obviously playing in this league for a long time. He can make plays. He gets scoring opportunities. He finds soft ice. He’s been good for us and just helping our younger players realize those situations.”
Speaking of…
The Sharks gave Toffoli that contract for his leadership: GM Mike Grier cited his impact on Jack Hughes with the New Jersey Devils. Toffoli’s reputation around the league is glowing. He also has a Stanley Cup on his resume, 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings.
You can also see that leadership on the ice.
On Oct. 29 against the Los Angeles Kings, Toffoli jumped on the ice as the extra attacker after the San Jose Sharks’ fourth line had drawn a penalty. They had the Kings on the heels, but Toffoli, in the slot, intentionally shoveled a pass for him out of the zone. Why?
That’s experience: Toffoli was trying to get fresh San Jose Sharks’ legs and the rest of the top line on the ice.
“As you play in this league longer the game slows down for you, and he’s done a good job of teaching those situations to the younger guys,” Warsofsky said.
And of course, the Sharks gave Toffoli his contract because of Celebrini: Like Toffoli mentored 2019 No. 1 pick Hughes, the Sharks are hoping he can shepherd the 2024 first-overall along. Toffoli and Celebrini, both represented by agent Pat Brisson, have known each other for years, and someone’s got to finish off Celebrini’s passes.
“He’s such a smart player and he’s been around the NHL for so long, he’s won the Stanley Cup. Any time he’s on the ice, he’s a threat for the other team,” Celebrini said. “He’s easy to play with, just because of how smart he is and how easy he is to play off of.”
Toffoli might also have something to teach the kid about scoring goals.
“I think the first practice or Captain’s Skate, I said to [Sharks development coach Mike Ricci] out there, we’re doing warm up drills, I noticed he never shoots high,” Sturm said of Toffoli. “A lot of guys aim for bar down. He shoots for the edges of the goalie.”
Toffoli explained: “You got to score in obviously different spots. In the game, you’re not going to have the luxury of being able to pick your spot every single time. Luc Robitaille, he told me early in my career, to make the goalie make a save. If you’re missing the net, obviously there’s no chance of it going in. If the goalie is making a save, then there’s a chance that it will go in. It’s just something that I was taught early.”
That’s Kings legend Luc Robitaille, 668 goals on his Hall of Fame resume.
Robitaille, like ex-King Toffoli, was known more for his scoring savvy than his measurables.
Between Toffoli and Mikael Granlund, GM Mike Grier has smartly surrounded his young guns with old hands who are more than able to show them a trick or two.
Just as important, Toffoli and Granlund are role models off the ice too.
Skill looks up to skill, a league source reminded San Jose Hockey Now about Granlund. This also applies, in equal measure, to Toffoli.