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

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

Harris was traded to the Blue Jackets on Monday. Upon arriving in the capital city, he observes a team and an organization that is eager to achieve more, having missed the postseason for the past four seasons.

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

“In a Zoom call on Tuesday, he said, “I’m the type of person who believes in always pushing the boundaries. I always feel that I can contribute more as an individual and a player. I’m confident that there is more I can offer in terms of my gameplay, considering the strengths and abilities I possess.”

I genuinely believe that I have much more to offer, which aligns perfectly with the team’s mindset. The team, as well as the fan base, are eager for success. The level of enthusiasm is high.

Harris, a left-shot defenseman, has scored eight goals and 32 points in his 131 career games with Montreal. He has mainly played with the Habs for the last two seasons after finishing a four-year stint at Northeastern University. Born in Haverhill, Mass., Harris represented Team USA in the World Juniors squad in the 2019-20 season and was chosen by Montreal in the third round of the 2018 draft.

Put simply, he has impressive credentials. The 24-year-old anticipates further developing his skills. He believes Columbus, based on his past experiences playing against the Blue Jackets and positive feedback about the city and organization from ex-CBJ player and Montreal teammate David Savard, is an ideal place for this. He also values the inputs of current and ex-Ohio State players from Massachusetts such as Mason Lohrei, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Jake Wise, and national women’s championship player Cayla Barnes.

“I had my rookie year playing there and it was an incredible experience, particularly because of the atmosphere and the cannon,” he shared. “The excitement is palpable, it’s raucous, and appears to be an awesome place to play. David Savard and some friends who attended Ohio State have all spoken highly about the area, Columbus, and the organization. So, I’m genuinely thrilled about everything.”

Harris is acquainted with Sean Monahan, who recently inked a five-year deal with Columbus after a stint with Montreal and Winnipeg the previous year. He has also met Johnny Gaudreau on multiple occasions while skating in Massachusetts. Gaudreau, also known as Johnny Hockey, made a name for himself at Boston College.

Harris expressed his eagerness to start and said that it shouldn’t take long to acclimate with the Blue Jackets.

“Harris commented, “This team appears hungry and young, still striving to establish themselves. That resonates with my current career stage. I may have played for a few years, but I feel I have much more to contribute and I’m certainly eager to demonstrate that. With new management and a new coach, there are numerous exciting elements involved.”

Harris pointed out that the transition from college to the NHL involves several facets, including a doubled number of games compared to NCAA hockey and changes in players’ lifestyles off the ice. This has all been a learning curve for Harris, but he believes the experience will benefit his future gameplay. Last season, with the Habs, he secured a 3-11-14 line and a minus-5 rating in 56 games.

“Now that I’ve gained some experience and better understand how things work, I feel ready to demonstrate the skills I have honed over the summer,” he stated. “As a defenseman, I may not be the most imposing, but I possess numerous strategies that enable me to defend robustly and join the attack. I aim to incorporate more offensive maneuvers into my repertoire without compromising my defensive strengths.”

“There’s plenty of excellent content, and I firmly believe that I can contribute more. I’m eager to showcase my work, which I have been diligently working on.”

Harris stated that even though he’s a left-shot defenseman, he’s capable of playing on the right side. He did this during his freshman year at Northeastern and also last season with the Canadiens. He learned about the trade yesterday while shopping for a table for his Massachusetts apartment at HomeGoods.

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

CBJ fans should enjoy getting acquainted with Harris, a biracial and Jewish member of the NHL/NHLPA Player Inclusion Coalition. This coalition, recently formed, aims to expand the game’s reach. Upon arriving in Columbus, Harris hopes to continue his role in this coalition and contribute to the growth of the sport.

“He expressed his belief in hockey’s beauty and the privilege he feels playing it daily. However, he emphasized that life extends beyond hockey, focusing on influencing people positively and contributing to his community. He expressed anticipation for his opportunity to assist in Columbus, a cause he and his team are passionate about and wish to persist in.”