Jacob Rombach blend of size and skill make him a force on the blue line

Jacob Rombach is the kind of defenceman coaches and teammates love and opponents dread. Standing just over 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 202 pounds, the USHL blueliner is already a force, and with room to add muscle, he could become a nightmare to match up against.

“I think a guy like Jacob Rombach, he's just so big and can skate well for his size, close his space on you quickly, and get you pinned up on the wall, so I think he's a really good player,” said Ryker Lee, who faced off against him in the USHL and the All-American Game.

When told what others are saying about him, Rombach offered a humble grin.

“Yeah, that's obviously a huge compliment,” he said. “I'm someone who takes pride in my defence and always wants to be someone who challenges the opponents.”

Early in the season, Rombach looked raw, particularly at the USHL Fall Classic, which kicks off the league calendar. But that’s never the time to judge a prospect’s full draft-year arc. It’s better to revisit later, and to hear how the players themselves feel they’ve grown.

“I would say my skating,” Rombach said. “I thought my skating agility improved throughout the year.”

That development has been supported by his work with Curtis Brown, the former NHL forward and now a skills coach in Lincoln.

“Just skating, actually. He's one of our skill coaches and mostly focuses on our skating and edge work,” Rombach said. “So just not doing as many crossovers during transitions. He was a pretty great skater.”

Skating is a critical component for any modern defenceman. Especially for players of Rombach’s size. Directional movement, edge control, and recovery speed all factor into whether a tall blueliner can thrive in today’s NHL. So does he simply skate well for a big man or skate well, full stop?

“I would say I skate good for a big guy,” he said. “That's something I take ownership of. It’s something I'm gonna be working on even more.”

Rombach doesn’t just rely on tools, he shows maturity and professionalism off the ice, too. That was evident during the NHL Combine, where he impressed with his poise and approach.

“It was an awesome experience,” he said. “I got to see a lot of guys that I usually don't get to see around the United States and obviously from other countries. I used it to build new relationships.”

That kind of self-awareness and social intelligence isn’t always common among 18-year-olds. Rombach viewed the combine not only as a showcase, but as a networking opportunity. He met with 25 teams and came away sounding focused and composed.

“Meeting with all the teams, just trying to do your best. Get your questions, be yourself,” he said.

When asked about his meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks, his tone shifted ever so slightly.

“I thought it was really well,” Rombach said. “I thought it was one of my better interviews.”

Could that be a tell? If the Blackhawks use their second first-round pick on Rombach, no one should be surprised. He’d add size and versatility to their blueline pipeline.

Rombach is committed to the University of Minnesota, where he’s expected to make an immediate impact. He’ll join fellow USHL product Mace’o Phillips, another standout prospect heading into the 2025 Draft.

“Mace’o is an awesome, awesome player,” Rombach said. “He has great character on and off the ice, so he's a great guy to be around.”

Rombach already has a clear plan for his development path.

“Yeah, I would say go to the University of Minnesota for two, three years,” he explained. “Then you would want to make it to the NHL straight out of college. If I end up going to the AHL for a year or two, then to the NHL, that’s all good.”

While his physical play and defensive instincts grab headlines, Rombach’s puck-moving ability shouldn't be overlooked. He’s reliable on retrievals, moves pucks cleanly, and gets his shot through traffic, something that should lead to more offensive production as he matures.

“I'm mostly gonna work on my strength, and I know a big part of me is filling into my body,” he said. “I know I'm a big, lanky guy, and I want to just fill out. I would say hopefully around 225-plus in the future. If I can skate at that size, that would be huge.”

There’s legitimate upside here. Rombach has the makeup of a second-pairing NHL defenceman, and the floor of a steady NHL regular. His size, skating, intelligence, and work ethic give him a strong foundation, especially if there’s a run on defencemen late in the first round. If he slips to the second, he’ll likely be among the first few names called on Day 2.

“Yeah, obviously, that'd be awesome if you were first round, okay,” Rombach said. “But no matter where I go, my main goal is to play 10–15 years in the NHL.”

Born in Minnesota. Bound for the Gophers. Focused on the NHL. Jacob Rombach has his roadmap, and he’s following it.