Nick Blankenburg waited five games for his opportunity with the Maple Leafs, then made an immediate impact with a goal 38 seconds into his first shift against his former team in Colorado. The undersized, undrafted defenceman has spent his career…
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Nick Blankenburg earned high praise from teammates after scoring in his season debut during a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Dressing as a seventh defenseman after five consecutive healthy scratches, Blankenburg scored just 38 seconds into his first shift. Captain Auston Matthews and winger William Nylander both celebrated the depth blueliner, who scored the team's first goal by a defenseman this season.
The 28-year-old blueliner earned a $1.4-million, one-way contract with Toronto following a successful professional tryout in training camp. Undrafted and standing 5-foot-9, Blankenburg credited his career resilience for helping him overcome adversity, having previously transitioned from walk-on status at the University of Michigan through stints with Columbus, Nashville, and Colorado before joining the Maple Leafs.
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