Blue Jackets cut QMJHL scoring champion

Where will Vitaly Abramov play this year?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Blue Jackets cut QMJHL scoring champion
Keystone Press

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced new roster cuts on Wednesday, and one of them is pretty interresting. Vitaly Abramov, Columbus third round pick (65th overall) in 2016 produced 104 points in 66 games with the Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) last season, wich made him the scoring champion. The Russian forward has 197 points (84G + 113A) in 129 games. At the end of last season, he played four games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), registering four points.

Because of his age and the fact that he his an import player in the CHL, Abramov has only two options to play in North America this season : playing in the NHL (wich will not happen since the Jackets cut him) or playing in the QMJHL. But, according to Mickael Lalancette of TVA Sports, Abramov said that he didn’t want to come back in the QMJHL in his end of season meeting with the Olympiques organisation. The Blue Jackets did assigned him to the QMJHL, but Aaron Portzline reported that Abramov would be heading to play in Finland.

The other six players cut by the Blue Jackets on Wednesday are : forwards Nick Mountey, Justin Scott and Calvin Thurkauf and defenseman Dean Kukan. They aslo have released forward John Mitchell and defenseman Brady Austin from their tryout contracts.

There is still 29 players in camp.