Toninato needed one day to decide his best route to the NHL was with the Colorado Avalanche.

Toninato reached prominence with Duluth (Minn.) East High School, and in 2011-12 had 73 points (33 goals, 40 assists) in 31 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs were impressed with the 6-foot-2 center and selected him in the fifth round (No. 126) in the 2012 NHL Draft.

He spent one season with Fargo of the United States Hockey League, tying for the team lead with 70 points (29 goals, 41 assists) in 64 games and was named a USHL Second-Team All-Star.

He began play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2013-14, and as a sophomore in 2015-16 led the team with 16 goals. As a senior in 2016-17 he was named captain, scored 16 goals again. He helped the school win the National Collegiate Hockey Conference title and was named the NCHC's best defensive forward and made the postseason tournament all-star team.

Toninato opted not to sign with the Maple Leafs after his senior year and became an unrestricted free agent Aug. 15, 2017; one day later he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche. He made his professional debut with San Antonio of the American Hockey League to start the season but was called up to the NHL and made his debut against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 18, 2017. He got his first point in his second game, an assist against the Detroit Red Wings the next day.