Blues ink reliable winger to 2-year contract extension

Toropchenko is a 2017 fourth-round (113th overall) draft selection of the Blues, who are currently in the thick of the tightly-packed Central Division standings in the NHL’s Western Conference.

While the Blues went on a strong run in the second half of last season under new head coach Jim Montgomery and ultimately secured a postseason spot, they were eliminated in the opening round by the Winnipeg Jets thanks to a miraculous last-second tying goal and subsequent double-overtime goal in the decisive seventh game of the series.

Alexey Toropchenko has re-signed with the Blues

A native of Moscow, Russia, Toropchenko was selected in the fourth round (113th overall) by the Blues in 2017 after playing with both HK MVD Balashikha and Dynamo Balashikha in his homeland.

Eventually, he would play two seasons with the OHL’s Guelph Storm, along with a season with the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage – as well as a stint back home with the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star – before joining the Blues’ AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds in the 2021-22 season.

This season, he’s been regularly skating on the fourth line alongside teammates Oskar Sundqvist and Mathieu Joseph. However, Toropchenko missed multiple games because of injuries sustained in a freak home accident.

He’s appeared in 286 career NHL games and has tallied 32 total goals with 33 assists in regular season play, while contributing another two goals and four assists in 19 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.