As he embarks on his third full professional season as an NHL defenseman, Jordan Harris believes that the best is yet to come.

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

Harris, who was traded to the Blue Jackets on Monday, arrives in the capital city to find a team and an organization eager for success, having missed the postseason for the past four seasons.

To put it differently, both the team and Harris himself have a lot to prove.

He articulated during a Zoom call on Tuesday, “As an individual, I believe there’s always room for more. I constantly feel that I can contribute more as a player and as a person. I am confident that I have more to offer as a player, being fully aware of my game strengths and abilities.”

“I strongly believe that there is so much more to contribute, and this aligns perfectly with the team’s mindset. The team and the fans are both eager and enthusiastic. There is a palpable sense of excitement.”

Harris, a left-shot defenseman, has amassed eight goals and 32 points in his 131 career games with Montreal. After finishing a four-year stint at Northeastern University, he has played predominantly for the Habs in the last two seasons. Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, he played for Team USA at the World Juniors in 2019-20. Additionally, he was Montreal’s third-round selection in the 2018 draft.

To put it simply, he is highly qualified and at 24, he is confident in his ability to further improve his game. He also believes that Columbus is an ideal place to do this, informed by 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. His opinion is also influenced by the experiences of current and former Ohio State players connected to Massachusetts such as Mason Lohrei, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Jake Wise, and women’s national champion Cayla Barnes.

“My rookie year, I had the opportunity to play there, and the experience was simply incredible, particularly due to the atmosphere and the cannon,” he shared. “It’s such an exciting place. The level of enthusiasm is high and it’s quite rowdy, making it seem like an ideal place to play. I’ve only ever heard positive things about the area and Columbus, as well as the organization, from David Savard and other friends who attended Ohio State. So, I’m genuinely thrilled about all of it.”

Harris is acquainted with Sean Monahan, who recently signed a five-year contract with Columbus after playing for Montreal and Winnipeg last year, and Johnny Gaudreau. Harris and Gaudreau crossed paths a few times while skating in Massachusetts, where Gaudreau, also known as Johnny Hockey, was a standout player at Boston College.

Harris expressed his eagerness to get started and believes it won’t take him long to acclimate with the Blue Jackets.

Harris stated, “The team appears to be a group full of hunger and youth, still trying to establish themselves. This aligns perfectly with my current career stage. Although I’ve been playing for a few years, I feel like I still have much more to offer and I’m eager to prove it. With the arrival of new management and a new coach, there are several exciting factors in play.”

Harris also highlighted that the shift from college to the NHL involves numerous elements. This includes the increase in the number of games on the schedule, which is double that of NCAA hockey, and the changes in player lifestyles outside of the rink. This transition has been an ongoing process for Harris, but he believes his experiences and learnings will benefit his future performance as a player. This comes after achieving a 3-11-14 line and a minus-5 rating in his previous season’s 56 games with the Habs.

“Now that I have a deeper understanding of the game and have gained some experience, I feel ready to demonstrate the skills I’ve been working on,” he said. “While I may not be the biggest defenseman, I have a variety of tools at my disposal to defend effectively and join the rush. I’m keen to continue developing my offensive abilities, without compromising my defensive strengths.”

“There’s an abundance of great content, and I feel confident that I have more to contribute. I’m eager to showcase it and have been diligently working on it.”

Harris stated that despite being a left-shot defenseman, he is capable of playing on the right side, as he did in his freshman year at Northeastern and last season with the Canadiens. He discovered he was traded yesterday while he was shopping for a table at HomeGoods for his apartment in Massachusetts.

“He said, laughing, “It certainly wasn’t what I anticipated when I walked into HomeGoods.”

CBJ fans should find it enjoyable to get acquainted with Harris. He is a biracial, Jewish individual who is part of the NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion Coalition, recently established to expand the game. Upon his arrival in Columbus, Harris aims to continue his role in this coalition and contribute to the growth of the sport.

“He expressed his sentiment, “I believe hockey is a remarkable sport, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to play it daily. However, life transcends just hockey; it’s about the influence you have on others and the contributions you make to your community. I’m genuinely excited about providing whatever assistance I can in Columbus. It’s a cause we’re deeply passionate about and certainly intend to persist.”