Cats Check-In: Toninato Making the Best of Things in Minneapolis

The Florida Panthers are riding out these unprecedented times much like the rest of us.
Whether it's finding creative ways to stay in shape or brushing up on their culinary skills in the kitchen, players have hunkered down and begun to find ways to adapt to their new routines at home as the NHL remains on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic that's gripped the world.
This week's check-in: Panthers forward Dominic Toninato.

OLIVE: It's now been more than a month since the NHL paused its regular season. What's your day-to-day routine like these days while still living under quarantine?
TONINATO:Well, it's nice not having to set an alarm every morning. I guess that's one perk. I just kind of get up when I get up, get some breakfast and then just get a workout in. After that I make some lunch and then, depending on the weather outside, maybe do some yardwork or take the dog for a walk. If it's bad outside, then it's just hanging out inside with TV or games.
OLIVE: In speaking with some of your teammates that are riding this out down here in South Florida, a lot of them have said that the nice weather has made quarantining a bit easier to stomach. On the flipside, how have things been up where you are in Minnesota?
TONINATO:The weather has been up and down [laughs]. We're in the Minneapolis area. It's usually a lot nicer down here than up in Duluth where I'm from. For the most part, it's been great. We've had some really nice days where you're outside in shorts and a T-shirt and enjoying it. But we've also had some cold days, even one day of snow!
OLIVE: In terms of your daily workouts, what's your training regime like?
TONINATO: I've got a little bit of equipment. I could obviously use a little more since it's not your typical gym. For the most part, I've got quite a bit of stuff. I've talked with Mike Donoghue, our strength guy. He set some stuff up for me with the equipment that I have. I've just been going off of that. I've been doing a lot of cardio, trying to keep the lungs and cardio up to par.
OLIVE: Is this the longest you've gone without being on skates in quite a while?
TONINATO: Yeah, for sure. Obviously after a normal season is over you take a break and try and recoup, just take some time off and get away from the rink and the ice. But that process has never taken a month-and-a-half, for sure.
OLIVE: Who are you quarantining with at home?
TONINATO: It's me, my fiancée and my dog - the family.
OLIVE: Your dog must be enjoying having you guys around all the time!
TONINATO:She's getting spoiled [laughs]. She gets us 24/7. But it helps us, too. It's good to get out of the house to take her on walks and things like that. I think she's loving every minute of this quarantine. Her name's Ruby. She's a mini Goldendoodle (see photos below!)

OLIVE: Other than your dog, is there anything else that takes up a lot of your free time?
TONINATO: Right now it's just video games and house projects.
OLIVE: What games are you playing these days?
TONINATO:I was a big Fortnite guy for quite a bit. I've kind of tailed off that. I just started in on Call of Duty: Warzone. I've also been playing quite a bit of Madden, getting ready for the draft.
OLIVE: Do you play with any of your teammates online?
TONINATO: I used to. Right when Call of Duty came out we were all playing it quite a bit back when we were all in Florida. Then I got off the Call of Duty train. Now that I'm getting back into it, I'll probably get going again with the guys.
OLIVE: What's on the agenda in terms of projects around the house?
TONINATO:Mainly just kind of getting stuff organized, setting up the garage. Like I said, there's a lot of yardwork. We're trying to get the best lawn in the neighborhood [laughs]. It's just little things. This is the first house we've ever had together. There's a lot of things you don't realize you need until you need them. We're doing a lot of things like that.
OLIVE: In terms of life goals, what's it like to finally be a homeowner?
TONINATO: It's awesome. I've been in apartments and a lot of hotels. I've really spent a lot of time in hotels the last couple years. It's just finally nice to have a home base and a spot where you can kind of leave your stuff. Just having room to move around, that's the best part.
OLIVE: Have you set aside some space for a mancave?
TONINATO:Yep. We've got the mancave going. The basement is unfinished right now. We have plans to finish that throughout next year when we're gone. That'll be the ultimate mancave. For now, I've just got a little temporary one.
OLIVE: In your opinion, what are the must-haves for a good mancave?
TONINATO:A lot of TVs and a pool table. That's my thing.
OLIVE: Speaking of TV, have you watched anything good lately?
TONINATO: There was a lot of hype about Tiger King, so with the time we had we thought we'd try that one out. I wasn't the biggest fan of it. I thought it was alright. I thought the hype was a little too much. It wasn't too bad. It was good for what it was. Right now we're watching All American. Season two came a month or two ago. For movies, we just watched Molly's Game.
OLIVE: Have you brushed up on your cooking skills during the quarantine as well?
TONINATO:I've always enjoyed cooking. When you're in a hotel and stuff during the year, not much cooking's going on. It's nice to be in the kitchen and to be able to make your own things.
OLIVE: We talked a bit about how you're staying physically prepared to return to action. That being said, how difficult has it been to also stay mentally prepared during this time?
TONINATO: I think the mental side might be even harder than the physical part. You want to expect the season to go on and you're hoping for the best, but no one really knows what's going to happen at this point. We're just hoping for the best. When they finally make the call, you've got to be ready to go. It's going to be crunch time.
OLIVE: At the time of the pause, you'd already set new career-highs in goals (4), assists (7), points (11) and games played (46). How would you sum up your season thus far?
TONINATO:I thought it was a good season. It was nice getting a fresh start with the Florida organization. I got the opportunity and kind of ran with it there. I was lucky enough to play with some really good players, a lot of skilled guys. That made my job a lot easier. I think overall I just grew as a player and grew a lot throughout the year.
Stay tuned for more "Cats Check-Ins" with your favorite Panthers!