As training camp gets underway for the Columbus Blue Jackets, there's always a new face or two to familiarize yourself with.
Today, we're getting more of an inside look at Jordan Harris.
The Blue Jackets acquired Harris in the trade that sent Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens on Aug. 19.
A 24-year-old defenseman from Massachusetts, Harris is 5-foot-11, 189 pounds, and was a third-round, 71st overall pick in 2018. Fitting in with a bunch of young Blue Jackets looking to solidify their game and make an impact, Harris has played parts of three NHL seasons with the Canadiens, including 56 games last season, scoring 14 points (three goals, 11 assists).
| Jordan Harris | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
| 2021-22 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 65 | 4 | 13 | 17 |
| 2023-24 | 56 | 3 | 11 | 14 |
The left-shot defenseman averages 17:58 of ice time in his career and was fourth on the Habs with 86 blocked shots last season — Harris learned a lot about former Blue Jacket David Savard's shot-blocking ability as he mentioned in his first media availability after the trade last month. Harris also knew Blue Jacket Sean Monahan from their days together just last season with the Canadiens.
Per Natural Stat Trick, Harris was first among Canadiens' defensemen with 2.67 xGA/60 last season.
| Jordan Harris | CA/60 | SA/60 | GA/60 | xGA/60 |
| 2021-22 | 58.51 | 29.84 | 1.96 | 2.68 |
| 2022-23 | 58.65 | 32.33 | 2.63 | 2.76 |
| 2023-24 | 59.57 | 28.83 | 2.33 | 2.67 |
As players gather for the first days of training camp, hitting the ice and looking to make good first impressions, what can Harris do to make this Blue Jackets team out of camp?
"Just be myself, honestly," Harris said. "And show what I can do. I take a lot of pride in the work I put in this summer and preparing so just trusting in my preparation, just being myself.
Harris detailed what he worked on this summer.
"Getting back to my skating details, you play so many games and your body gets beat down a little bit. And then focus on little things like making sure you know what you want to do with the puck before you get it, scanning the ice a little bit better, practicing both sides when scrimmaging, and everything."
What are his impressions from working with the coaching staff and new head coach Dean Evason?
"I thought he was great out there, they were all great out there," Harris said. "A lot of energy.
"But I also think, especially with Dean, he knows how to enjoy what he's doing. As well as getting in really good work. You see him out there cracking jokes and ribbing guys a little bit and that's great because it's such as long year, right?
"You can tell he really loves what he's doing and everyone feeds off that energy."
As he told Blue Jackets radio play-by-play announcer Bob McElligott right after last month's trade, he loves the roster competition.
"That's exactly what I want," Harris said. "I wouldn't want to come to a situation with anything promised or given. And that's how I've been throughout my career. Started in prep school. I was a good player but had to work my way up. Third-round pick. Decently high pick but had to work my way up.
"You get to this level and nothing's given to you. And that's exactly how I expect it and excited to earn whatever's given at the end of the day."
New #CBJ D Jordan Harris on joining the team:
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) September 19, 2024
"You see in so many cases, teams surpass their expectations because of how well they jell together. You get the right group of guys, the right coaching staff and sometimes everything just falls into place. ... Just based off the
During Harris' first media availability with the Blue Jackets media last month, he talked about his attributes on the ice and where he looks to take the next steps in his career.
"The first couple years, you think of starting to play professional hockey and you think of just the hockey aspect," Harris said. "And there's so much more that goes into it. It's the travel, coming from college, I was now playing double the games I played in college.
"The social aspect's a little different. Guys are older. Not everyone lives with each other in dorms. Everyone has families or lives in apartments, except for maybe the very young guys.
"I think now, that I have a better feeling and understanding of how things go, and I have some games under my belt, I really feel like the next step and what I want to do is showcase what I work on this summer. What I can do as a player.
"I'm not the biggest defenseman but there are a lot of tools I can use to defend hard and join the rush. I think there's some offensive stuff I want to continue to add to my game while not taking away from my strengths as a defender.
"I definitely feel like there's more that I can give and I'm excited to show it."
Even though Harris might be a natural left-shot defenseman, he has familiarity playing on the right side which he did in college and the World Juniors.
Harris, a left shot, can play on both sides of the ice, but he's played on the right side extensively early in his NHL career. He's fine either way, he said.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 19, 2024
He's already been welcomed to town by GM Don Waddell, and players Boone Jenner, Kent Johnson and others.
2/2
Harris scored his second career goal in 2022 at Nationwide Arena, a 6-4 Blue Jackets win. Now Harris hopes to score a few more and hear that cannon go off for his team.
