USHL scoring leader Abruzzese braces for Clark Cup Playoffs, NHL Draft

  

Nick Abruzzese has quietly made a name for himself in his second season with the Chicago Steel. The crafty forward’s skills show up on the scoresheet most nights, but his importance to the hockey team goes far beyond his skills on the ice.

The Slate Hill, New York, native currently leads the USHL in scoring (76 points), assists (49) and is tied for ninth in goals (27). Abruzzese is also scoring at a 26.2 percent clip on all his shots, a number that is quite impressive at any level of hockey. The first-line center has also been tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top-line players.

At 5’9” and 160 lbs., pro scouts need to watch Abruzzese closely in order to truly enjoy his full body of work this season. The NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings ranked Abruzzese the 200th best prospect amongst North American skaters, a ranking that may seem low when it is all said and done for Abruzzese.

“Too often in the scouting community we put too much emphasis on evaluating with the tape measure and birth certificate,” Chicago Steel General Manager Ryan Hardy stated. “By any metric, Nick Abruzzese is an elite player with the hockey sense and playmaking capabilities that translate to the upper echelon of the players in the NHL.”

Abruzzese’s accomplishments on the ice have not gone unnoticed by the USHL. The left-handed shooting center has twice been the recipient of USHL Forward of the Week, once last season and once this season. An impressive feat, knowing the amount of high-end talent throughout the top junior league in the country.

The accomplishments do not stop on the ice, as Abruzzese is committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Harvard, an Ivy League school that participates in the ECAC for hockey, who recently lost to Massachusetts in the NCAA Northeast Regional play. Harvard, coached by Ted Donato, has qualified for the NCAA Tournament three of the last four seasons, culminating in a third-place finish in the 2016–17 season, when the Crimson finished with a 28–6–2 record.

“His mindset and approach to his development are also exceptional,” Hardy said. “The team with the courage to draft him will get potentially the steal of the draft.”

As the Chicago Steel look to make a deep run in the Clark Cup playoffs, the former New Jersey Avalanche product, the same organization that helped develop Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce, will look to lead the way with his scoring, playmaking ability and leadership that has helped the Steel fight to hold onto the second place spot in the Eastern Conference, which would earn the team a first round bye in the playoffs.

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Center Ice Forums USHL scoring leader Abruzzese braces for Clark Cup Playoffs, NHL Draft

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  • #12574
    Ray Napientek
    Keymaster

    Nick Abruzzese has quietly made a name for himself in his second season with the Chicago Steel. The crafty forward’s skills show up on the scoresheet[To continue reading full article, click here: USHL scoring leader Abruzzese braces for Clark Cup Playoffs, NHL Draft]

    #12576
    Mister Ricochet
    Participant

    Alright Ray, nice piece here.   Good to see the USHL and Steel getting some love at The Rink.

    Zues has worked his way to his current success at the USHL level.  Solid but not close to spectacular in Midgets got him drafted in the 15th rd by Lincoln in the 2016 USHL Phase II draft and undrafted by any other jr league.  That will give you an idea of how scouts/GM’s saw Abru.

    He made the Steel roster last yr and he and Mastrosimone, Mastro was a 16 yr old tender, Abru an 18 yr old, were part of a 4th line rotation for a good month last yr!   IMO coach was a couple weeks late to move these two up the lineup as a novice eye could see both were making plays and a difference.  Was screaming to anyone who would listen for these two to be moved up the lineup.   …. Both were and had very good yrs.

    Abru may have lost some 2 way hunger this yr to start.   Kid was double digit in the minus column neglecting his zone as his even +- will show right now.   Kid has 76 points and is even but has come from double digit in the minus column to get to even.

    Dangerous player no doubt, great vision, play making and hands………… My point is Abru did not come in a blueblood drafted high and given every chance to fail.   He came in a 15th rounder from the Lincoln Stars, worked his way onto the Steel roster, worked his way up from a 4th line scratch rotation last yr to leading the USHL in points.

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/201476/nick-abruzzese

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