The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed prospect Nick Abruzzese to a 2-year contract worth $1.7 million, or $850,000 per season. This contract carries him through the 2022-23 season.
🖊 We’ve signed forward Nick Abruzzese to a two-year, entry-level contract for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons#LeafsForever
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 26, 2022
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Nick Abruzzese
Nick Abruzzese has played with Havard University since the 2019-20 season. He has put up 23 goals and 54 assists for 77 points in 59 games with Harvard. He was originally drafted in the 4th round, 124th overall of the 2019 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This season he scored 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points through 28 games. He also added just eight minutes in penalties.
The Leafs add Abruzzese to not only see what he looks at the professional level of hockey, but also to add depth for their upcoming playoff run. He will be signed for this final stretch of the season, as well as next season.
“As an organization, we’re very thankful to Harvard head coach Ted Donato and his staff for their job developing Nick,” said Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas. “Harvard’s academic reputation precedes itself but is also an elite hockey development program as evidenced by the number of players they have developed into National Hockey League players.”
What This Means for the Future
Abruzzese has been touted as one of the better Toronto Maple Leaf prospects this season. He led his Harvard team in points per game this season. He also represented Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics. During the Olympic Games Abruzzese posted a goal and three assists through four games.
Abruzzese was selected as an overage player in the draft, and it seems that gamble is paying of for the Leafs now. The Leafs, a cash-strapped team, will need to leverage these good young players on ELCs in order to continue to compete. By signing Abruzzese, the Leafs get a player that might be able to contribute at a low cap hit.
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