As he embarks on his third complete professional season as an NHL defenseman, Jordan Harris believes that the best is still ahead.

He also believes that this makes him an ideal fit for Columbus.

Harris was traded to the Blue Jackets on Monday. Upon arriving in the capital city, he observes a team and organization eager for success, having missed the postseason for the last four seasons.

In other words, both the team and Harris himself have a lot to prove.

“On a Zoom call Tuesday, he expressed, “I’m the kind of person who always believes there’s more to give. As a player, as a person, I feel I can always contribute more. I am confident that I have more to offer as a player, given my knowledge of my game strengths and abilities.”

“I genuinely believe that there’s so much more to offer, which aligns perfectly with the team’s mentality. The team and the fans are eager and excited. There’s an undeniable sense of anticipation and excitement.”

Harris, a left-shot defenseman, has scored eight goals and accumulated 32 points in 131 career games with Montreal. After finishing a four-year stint at Northeastern University, he has principally played with the Habs over the last two seasons. Born in Haverhill, Mass., Harris represented Team USA at the World Juniors in the 2019-20 season and was Montreal’s third-round selection in the 2018 draft.

To put it differently, he possesses impressive credentials, and at 24, he anticipates further development in his game. He considers Columbus a suitable location for this, based on his past experiences playing against the Blue Jackets and positive feedback about the city and team from ex-CBJ player and Montreal teammate David Savard. He has also gotten good reviews from present and past Ohio State players from Massachusetts such as Mason Lohrei, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Jake Wise and Cayla Barnes, a national championship women’s player.

“My rookie year, I had the privilege to play there. The atmosphere and the cannon made it an extraordinary experience,” he expressed. “It’s full of excitement, it’s rowdy, and it seems like a prime location for playing. Based on what David Savard and friends who attended Ohio State have told me, they’ve had nothing but praise for the area, Columbus, and the organization. I’m definitely thrilled about all of this.”

Harris is also acquainted with Sean Monahan, who recently signed a five-year contract with Columbus following his previous season with Montreal and Winnipeg, as well as Johnny Gaudreau. He has met Gaudreau a few times while skating in Massachusetts, where Gaudreau, also known as Johnny Hockey, made a name for himself at Boston College.

Therefore, settling in with the Blue Jackets shouldn’t take much time, and Harris expressed his eagerness to get started.

Harris expressed, “It feels like a team that’s hungry and still striving to prove its worth, which aligns with my current stage in my career. I’ve had a few years of experience, but I feel I still have much more to offer and I’m eager to demonstrate that. With the new management and coach, there are many exciting elements in place.”

Harris observed that transitioning from college to the NHL involves several aspects, including a doubled number of scheduled games compared to NCAA hockey and the different lifestyles players lead off the ice. This has all been part of Harris’s journey, and he believes the lessons he’s learned will benefit his future performance. This comes after he posted a 3-11-14 line and a minus-5 rating in his 56 games with the Habs in the previous season.

“Now that I have a better grasp of how things work and have gained some experience through my games, I believe it’s time to display my abilities, honed over the summer,” he stated. “As a defenseman, my size isn’t my strength. However, I have several skills to play hard defense and support the offense. I plan to incorporate more offensive strategies into my gameplay without undermining my defensive strengths.”

“There is a wealth of great content that I have yet to share. I am eager to present it and have been actively working on it.”

Harris, a left-shot defenseman, revealed that he is capable of playing on the right side too, having done so in his freshman year at Northeastern and last season with the Canadiens. He discovered about the trade yesterday when he was shopping for a table at HomeGoods for his Massachusetts apartment.

“He said with a laugh, “It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting when I walked into HomeGoods.”

CBJ fans should enjoy getting to know Harris, a biracial and Jewish player. He is a member of the NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion Coalition, a recent initiative aimed at expanding the game. Upon his arrival in Columbus, Harris hopes to continue in this role and contribute to the growth of the sport.

“He expressed his admiration for hockey, stating, “Hockey is a beautiful sport and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to play it daily.” He further added, “Yet life extends beyond hockey. It’s about the impact you have on people and your contributions to your community. I am eager to lend a hand in any way possible in Columbus, a cause we’re highly passionate about and certainly wish to carry on.”