The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens will give two of their college prospects a first taste of NHL action on Saturday.
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Nick Abruzzese will make his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers. The former Harvard forward decided to skip his final season in college in favour of a two-year entry-level deal with Toronto.
Abruzzese skated on the fourth line with Colin Blackwell and Wayne Simmonds during the team's practice on Friday.
Meanwhile, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis announced that Jordan Harris will draw into the lineup for his first NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Montreal signed Harris to a two-year, entry-level contract on March 26.
The 21-year-old from Haverhill, Mass., registered 20 points — five goals and 15 assists — in 38 games during his senior year as captain of the Northeastern University Huskies. Harris was also named the Hockey East conference's best defensive defenceman and was also named to the All-Conference first team this season.
He was drafted in the third round, 71st overall, by the Canadiens in 2019.
