The Toronto Maple Leafs did not have a pick in the first round of the 2019 Draft, but appear to have hit the jackpot not only with second-rounder Nick Robertson but also with fourth-rounder Nick Abruzzese.
Abruzzese, drafted as an overager 124th overall after an 80-point season with the USHL’s Chicago Steel last June, earned Ivy League Rookie of the Year and ECAC First Team honors.
Nick Abruzzese nets this one from the slot and would later add an assist in Harvard’s 5-3 win over St. Lawrence #NCAApic.twitter.com/sT03QIz2ie
The 20-year-old scored 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) with the Harvard Crimson, leading all NCAA freshmen in scoring and averaging 1.42 points per game (the second highest in Division I college hockey).
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Will the 2019-20 season resume in August and push the start of next season to November? TSN Insider Frank Seravelli reported on Tuesday that a group of NHL players have discussed delaying the return until the summer, starting with a late-July training camp, an abridged regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs in August and September, pausing in October for the Draft and free agency and starting the 2020-21 campaign in November.
The Maple Leafs recognize all those who work to help others in need.
We are giving away our players' St. Pats jerseys to those who are putting others first. Tag a healthcare worker or first responder who is working on the front line and we will randomly select recipients Friday. pic.twitter.com/ty2sllQbut
In a conversation with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated that while the league is open to a number of options to complete the suspended season and award a Stanley Cup winner, it will not come at the risk of playing an 82-game campaign in the fall.
"The only definite for us, is we certainly don’t want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year.’’ Daly said.
LeBrun indicated that the potential November start date would entail cancelling the All-Star break and the bye weeks for clubs to get the season done in a reasonable time frame and that going deeper into the summer might be necessary.
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