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Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Dazzles at Olympics

By Mike Jack

Feb 10, 2022; Beijing, China; Team United States forward Nick Abruzzese (16) skates with the puck as Team China defender Kailiaosi Jieke (7) defends during the second period during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at National Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2022; Beijing, China; Team United States forward Nick Abruzzese (16) skates with the puck as Team China defender Kailiaosi Jieke (7) defends during the second period during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at National Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs were represented at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games by three top prospects and one member of their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

It’s obviously a great honour to be selected for an Olympic team, and all four Toronto Maple Leafs players deserve praise for simply being selected, but one prospect in particular really made an impression.

Forward, Nick Abruzzese, put up four points in four games while playing with Team USA.  His point per game pace at the Olympics may be an indicator that Abruzzese is the real deal and will compete at the NHL level in the near future.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Nick Abruzzese in the 4th round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft after he led the USHL in scoring during the 2018-19 season.  Since then, Abruzzese has been attending Harvard University and playing with the Harvard Crimson in the NCAA.

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Dazzles at the Olympics

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see more from Abruzzese at the 2022 Olympics since Team USA was eliminated by Team Slovakia in the Quarter Finals.  The only American player with more points at the 2022 Olympics was Abruzzese’s Harvard Crimson teammate, Sean Farrell, with six points in four games.

During his freshman year at Harvard, Nick Abruzzese led the ECAC in points and had the third most points in the entire NCAA.  He was named NCAA Ivy-League Rookie of the Year and was named to the NCAA All-Ivy League First Team.

Abruzzese and the Harvard Crimson didn’t play hockey at all in 2020-21 due to the Covid-19 pandemic which makes his performance this season all the more spectacular.

This season, as captain of the Harvard Crimson, Abruzzese leads the team in points per game and is just two points shy of leading the team in points despite playing seven less games.  He’s also on the long list of Hobey Baker Award Nominees.

More Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects at the 2022 Olympics

Nick Abruzzese’s Team USA teammate Matthew Knies finished his Olympic campaign with a goal and a assist in four games.  Knies was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2nd round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Pontus Holmberg has two assists in four games so far as Team Sweden advances to the Semi-Finals.  Holmberg was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Next. Leafs Prospect Pool Great Despite Being Cup Contender. dark

Toronto Marlies forward, Josh Ho-Sang, ended up with three assists in four games after Canada was defeated by Sweden in the Quarter Finals.

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