The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Nick Abruzzese to a two-year, entry-level contract that carries an $850,000 salary cap hit.
Abruzzese saw his season come to an end after Harvard lost to top-ranked Minnesota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Regionals. Abruzzese was named the Ivy League Player of the Year after registering six goals and 25 points in 22 games this season.
“As an organization, we’re very thankful to Harvard head coach Ted Donato and his staff for their job developing Nick,” Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. “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.”
There was a chance Abruzzese would return for his senior year at Harvard before ultimately deciding to sign with Toronto. The 23-year-old was selected in the fourth round by the Leafs in the 2019 NHL Draft.
The Slate Hill, NY., native played for the United States in the men’s hockey tournament at the 2022 Beijing Olympics registering a goal and four points in four games.