Alexey Toropchenko Bio
Alexey Leonidovich Toropchenko is a Russian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 222 pounds, he uses his size and skating ability to play a physical, north-south style. The Blues selected him 113th overall in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and he has since developed into a depth forward known for his forechecking and penalty killing.
Born in Moscow, Russia, Toropchenko came up through Russian junior hockey before moving to North America to play major junior in the Ontario Hockey League. After stints in the American Hockey League and a season in the Kontinental Hockey League with Kunlun Red Star, he made his NHL debut in December 2021 and has remained with the Blues organization since.
Early Life and Background
Alexey Leonidovich Toropchenko was born on 25 June 1999 in Moscow, Russia. He grew up in a hockey household, as his father, Leonid Toropchenko, had a long professional career of his own. Leonid was selected 260th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play 14 seasons of professional hockey in Russia and North America, giving his son a clear early window into the demands of the sport.
Tragedy struck the family in May 2017, when Leonid Toropchenko died of a heart attack. That loss came shortly before Alexey was drafted by the St. Louis Blues, and it marked a deeply personal turning point in his young career. He has often spoken about carrying his father’s legacy with him as he continues to climb the professional ranks.
Path to Hockey
Toropchenko began his organized career in Russia, serving as an alternate captain for HK MVD Balashikha in the Junior Hockey League (MHL). His play in that league caught the attention of Canadian Hockey League scouts, and he was selected fourth overall by the Guelph Storm in the 2017 CHL Import Draft, signaling a significant step toward North American professional hockey.
He moved to Ontario for the 2017–18 OHL season and made an immediate impact. In his OHL debut on 22 September 2017, he recorded his first OHL goal and an assist in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Sarnia Sting. Across 66 games that year, he posted 17 goals and 22 assists, and he followed that up with 17 goals and 26 assists in 62 games during his sophomore season. That second campaign ended with the Storm winning their fourth J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions in 2019.
Alexey Toropchenko Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After being drafted 113th overall by the St. Louis Blues, Toropchenko signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on 13 December 2018. The Blues eased his transition by assigning him to their developmental pipeline, beginning with their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
He made his professional debut on 13 April 2018 in a 4–2 loss to the Texas Stars, and he scored his first professional goal on 1 November 2019, also against the Stars, in a 4–2 win. In the 2019–20 AHL season, he appeared in 59 games and produced five goals and four assists, establishing himself as a physical, reliable two-way forward in the organization.
KHL Season (2020–21)
On 29 September 2020, the Blues loaned Toropchenko to HC Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League for the 2020–21 season. He made his KHL debut on 4 October 2020 in a 6–3 loss to Dynamo Moscow and scored his first KHL goal on 19 October 2020 in a 3–1 win over Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. In 45 games, he finished with seven goals and four assists.
One highlight stood above the rest. On 25 October 2020, against CSKA Moscow, he scored the fastest goal in Kunlun Red Star history, finding the net just 34 seconds into the first period. The stint gave him valuable experience in a men’s professional league and prepared him for the next step in North America.
St. Louis Blues Era (2021–Present)
Toropchenko returned to the Blues organization for the 2021–22 season, joining their new AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. On 14 December 2021, after a COVID-19 outbreak depleted the Blues roster, he was called up and made his NHL debut in a 4–1 win over the Dallas Stars.
Since that debut, he has carved out a role as a hard-nosed depth forward for St. Louis. He is valued for his willingness to finish checks, block shots, and provide energy on the penalty kill. He continues to develop his offensive game while remaining a steady presence in the bottom six of the lineup.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 6 inches and around 222 pounds, Toropchenko is one of the bigger forwards in the Blues’ system, and he uses that frame to win battles along the boards and protect the puck along the cycle. He is a strong skater for his size, capable of closing quickly on opposing defensemen. Coaches have leaned on him in penalty-kill situations because of his reach, stick detail, and willingness to block shots.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of his early career was the fastest goal in Kunlun Red Star history, scored 34 seconds into a game against CSKA Moscow on 25 October 2020. His first professional goal, his first NHL appearance in December 2021, and his OHL championship with the Guelph Storm in 2019 also stand out as defining milestones.
Alexey Toropchenko Career Wins
Toropchenko’s most prominent team win to date is the 2019 J. Ross Robertson Cup, earned with the Guelph Storm after a strong OHL playoffs run. While he has not yet captured a personal league-wide scoring title, his résumé includes consistent contributions at every level he has played.
OHL Highlights
Across two OHL seasons with the Guelph Storm, Toropchenko appeared in 128 regular-season games, recording 34 goals and 48 assists. His first OHL goal came on 22 September 2017 against the Sarnia Sting, and his final OHL playoff push ended with a Robertson Cup championship in 2019. The two-year stretch established him as a legitimate NHL prospect.
Other Wins & Performances
On the international stage, Toropchenko represented Russia at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championships, winning a bronze medal in both events. He also reached the AHL level with the San Antonio Rampage and Springfield Thunderbirds, where he posted five goals and four assists in 59 games during the 2019–20 season and continued to build his two-way game in 2021–22.
Alexey Toropchenko Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Toropchenko family. Alexey’s father, Leonid Toropchenko, was selected 260th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play 14 seasons of professional hockey in Russia and North America. That background gave Alexey an early understanding of the work required to reach the highest levels of the game.
Personal Life
Toropchenko’s father, Leonid, passed away from a heart attack in May 2017, shortly before Alexey’s NHL draft. Alexey has continued to honor his father’s memory through his career in the Blues organization. Beyond that, he keeps his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Toropchenko remained part of the St. Louis Blues’ forward group, with a focus on stabilizing the bottom of the lineup and contributing on the penalty kill. The Blues continued to integrate younger players around their veteran core, and Toropchenko’s blend of size and energy gave him a clear role within that mix.
Throughout the year, he took on matchups against opposing teams’ top checking lines, leaned into physical play, and provided a defensive anchor in tight games. While his offensive numbers remained modest, his coaches pointed to his shot-blocking, face-off reliability, and forechecking as key drivers of his consistent ice time.
With the Blues looking to remain competitive in a tightly contested Western Conference, Toropchenko’s role as a steady, hard-to-play-against depth forward looked secure heading into the later stages of the season and any potential playoff push.
