Spencer Abbott (ice hockey)

Spencer Abbott (born April 30, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks.

Spencer Abbott
Abbott in 2017
Born (1988-04-30) April 30, 1988 (age 36)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing / Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Frölunda HC
Chicago Blackhawks
EHC Kloten
Mora IK
Leksands IF
Augsburger Panther
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2012–2021

Playing career

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Abbott spent his collegiate career playing for the Maine Black Bears in the NCAA Men's Division I Hockey East conference. In his senior year, Abbott's outstanding play was rewarded with a unanimous selection to the 2011–12 Hockey East First-Team All-Stars, as well as being named the 2011–12 Athletic Republic Player of the Year.[1] He led the league in scoring that season, collecting 21 goals and 62 points in 39 games.[2] He finished his four-year stint with the Black Bears having registered 146 points in 151 games.[3]

He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise in March 2012 and joined them at the end of the 2011–12 season[4] as an undrafted free agent.[5] He played in three games with the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, that season.[4] The following year he attended the Leafs training camp, but was assigned to the Marlies on September 15, 2012, to participate in the upcoming AHL training camp.[6] In the 2013–14 season, Abbott was again part of the Maple Leafs training camp, but was assigned to the Marlies on September 20.[7] He was recalled by the Maple Leafs after Nikolai Kulemin was injured in practice. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2013, in the Maple Leafs home opener against the Ottawa Senators.[8] Abbott spent most of the 2013–14 season with the Marlies, collecting 17 goals and 69 points in 63 games. He was named an AHL Second Team All-Star and was selected to participate in the AHL's 2014 All-Star Classic but missed the game due to injury.[2] On September 14, 2015, Abbott signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs.[3]

In the 2014–15 season, Abbott struggled with the Marlies, collecting 24 points in 46 games.[9] On February 26, 2015, Abbott was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenceman T. J. Brennan.[10] He was reassigned to the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, where he remained for the duration of the season, recapturing his offence to produce 21 points in 19 games and a further 6 points in 8 playoff games.[11][12]

As an impending free agent, Abbott signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year contract with Swedish club Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on June 16, 2015.[12] He had a very successful season in Sweden, including winning the Swedish national championship[13] and the Champions Hockey League (CHL).[14] In 51 SHL contests, Abbott tallied 14 goals and 22 assists.[11]

On July 1, 2016, he returned to the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent on a one-year, two-way deal.[15] He attended Blackhawks training camp, but was reassigned to Rockford after passing through waivers.[16] Abbott began the 2016–17 season, in his second stint with the Rockford IceHogs. Amongst the IceHogs scoring leaders, Abbott was recalled to replace Tyler Motte who had been assigned to Rockford.[17][18] He made his debut for Chicago, his second NHL appearance, in a 4–3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on January 5, 2017.[19] He was returned to Rockford following the game and proceeded to collect 35 points in 53 games. At the NHL trade deadline, Abbott was dealt by the Blackhawks, along with Sam Carrick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Kenton Helgesen and a 7th round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft on March 1, 2017.[20]

As a free agent from the Ducks, Abbott opted to extend his tenure with affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, signing a one-year AHL contract on September 25, 2017.[21] In the 2017–18 season, while leading the Gulls in scoring with 20 points in 17 games, Abbott was traded to the Binghamton Devils in exchange for future considerations on December 8, 2017.[22] He initially refused to report to Binghamton and was suspended without pay by the team.[23] On December 22, he signed for the remainder of the season with Swiss-based club, EHC Kloten in the National League.[24]

Helping Kloten avoid relegation, Abbott left as a free agent and returned for a second tenure in the SHL, agreeing to terms with Mora IK on September 17, 2018.[25] In the 2018–19 season, Abbott led Mora's offense, registering 29 assists and 36 points in 42 regular season games. He also had 3 points in 5 games against rivals Leksands IF. On June 26, 2019, Abbott left Mora to continue in the SHL, agreeing to a one-year contract with the newly promoted Leksands IF.[26]

On December 29, 2020, Abbott signed with the Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[27]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Hamilton Red Wings OPJHL 11 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Hamilton Red Wings OPJHL 49 32 43 75 22 19 4 5 9 12
2007–08 Hamilton Red Wings OPJHL 48 42 41 83 42 5 2 4 6 2
2008–09 University of Maine HE 38 7 9 16 8
2009–10 University of Maine HE 38 9 19 28 6
2010–11 University of Maine HE 36 17 23 40 16
2011–12 University of Maine HE 39 21 41 62 34
2011–12 Toronto Marlies AHL 3 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Toronto Marlies AHL 55 13 20 33 10 5 2 3 5 2
2013–14 Toronto Marlies AHL 64 17 52 69 16 11 4 7 11 2
2013–14 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Toronto Marlies AHL 46 7 17 24 10
2014–15 Rockford IceHogs AHL 19 12 9 21 6 8 3 3 6 2
2015–16 Frölunda HC SHL 42 14 21 35 4 9 0 1 1 0
2016–17 Rockford IceHogs AHL 53 15 20 35 14
2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2016–17 San Diego Gulls AHL 16 3 11 14 2 8 1 5 6 0
2017–18 San Diego Gulls AHL 17 6 14 20 2
2017–18 EHC Kloten NL 13 5 5 10 2
2018–19 Mora IK SHL 42 7 29 36 8
2019–20 Leksands IF SHL 33 7 14 21 6
2020–21 Augsburger Panther DEL 32 9 18 27 12
NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0
AHL totals 273 73 144 217 60 46 10 18 28 6
SHL totals 117 28 64 92 18 9 0 1 1 0

Awards and honours

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Award Year
College
All-Hockey East First Team 2011–12 [1]
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2011–12 [28]
Hobey Baker Award Finalist 2011–12 [29]
AHL
Second all-star team 2013–14 [30]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dumoulin, Almeida Highlight 2011–2012 Hockey East All-Star Teams". SB Nation – BC Interruption. March 15, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Leafs Sign Spencer Abbott". Toronto Maple Leafs. September 9, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Toronto Maple Leafs sign Hamilton's Spencer Abbott". CBC News. The Canadian Press. September 10, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  4. ^ a b McGran, Kevin (October 7, 2013). "Maple Leafs rookies Jamie Devane, Spencer Abbott beat odds". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "NHL: Maple Leafs re-sign Hamilton's Abbott to one-year contract". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. September 10, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Calabrese, Darren (September 15, 2012). "Kadri, Gardiner among Leafs assigned to Marlies". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  7. ^ McGran, Kevin (September 20, 2013). "Maple Leafs' Jonathan Bernier misses practice, new goalie equipment hurts knee". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Radley, Scott (October 7, 2013). "NHL: Dream comes true for Hamilton's Abbott". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  9. ^ "Hamilton's Spencer Abbott traded by Leafs to Chicago". The Hamilton Spectator. February 27, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Brennan Acquired for Abbott". National Hockey League. February 26, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Blackhawks Agree to Terms with Spencer Abbott". Rockford IceHogs. July 1, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "En Abbott till Frölunda" [An Abbott to Frölunda] (in Swedish). Frölunda HC. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  13. ^ Stackpole, Brian (May 3, 2016). "Spencer Abbott Wins Title In Sweden". 92.9 The Ticket. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  14. ^ "Champion of the Champions". www.iihf.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "Blackhawks agree to terms with forward Spencer Abbott". Chicago Blackhawks. July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ Lazerus, Mark (October 3, 2016). "Spencer Abbott keeps producing, but age counts against him". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "Spencer Abbott gets big call, even bigger opportunity with Blackhawks". NBC Sports. January 4, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Fitzgerald, Sean (June 30, 2017). "Chicago Blackhawks Recall Forward Spencer Abbott". Fox Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  19. ^ "Kane, Blackhawks beat Sabres in overtime". CBS Sports. January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  20. ^ "Ducks acquire Abbott and Carrick from Chicago". Anaheim Ducks. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017 – via NHL.com.
  21. ^ "Gulls sign RW Spencer Abbott to one-year deal". San Diego Gulls. September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  22. ^ "Devils acquire Spencer Abbott from Gulls". Binghamton Devils. December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  23. ^ Lippolis, Rob [@RobLippolis] (December 16, 2017). "Audio: Great talk with #BingDevils GM Tom Fitzgerald today" (Tweet). Retrieved December 15, 2017 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Spencer Abbott signs with EHC Kloten". EHC Kloten. December 22, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2018 – via swisshockeynews.ch.
  25. ^ "Mora IK värvar poängstark forward" [Mora IK recruits a strong scoring forward] (in Swedish). Mora IK. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  26. ^ "Spencer Abbott klar för Leksands IF" [Spencer Abbott ready for Leksands IF] (in Swedish). Leksands IF. June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  27. ^ "Spencer Abbott Verstärkt Die Offensive Der Panther" [Spencer Abbott Reinforces the Panthers' Offensive] (in German). Augsburger Panther. December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  28. ^ "College Hockey All-Americans". USCHO.com. March 28, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  29. ^ "Hobey Finalists". insidecollegehockey.com. April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  30. ^ "First and Second AHL All-Stars named". American Hockey League. April 15, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hockey East Player of the Year
2011–12
Succeeded by
Preceded by Hockey East Scoring Champion
2011–12
Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
2011–12
Succeeded by