HabsWorld.net --
The wait is over for the Canadiens as they have officially signed college defenceman Jordan Harris to a two-year, entry-level contract. The deal begins this season. It carries an AAV of $1.1375M, including $425,000 in Schedule A bonuses each year.
Harris was Montreal’s third-round pick (78th overall) back in 2018 and has seen his stock improve since then. He recently wrapped up his college career with Northeastern and while his offensive numbers don’t jump off the chart (20 points in 39 games), the 22-year-old has logged heavy minutes in all situations for the Huskies over his tenure with them and has a legitimate shot of being a regular with the Habs before long.
He’ll get the opportunity to suit up right away with Montreal down the stretch, giving him a chance of showcasing himself for next season in the process. However, this path also means that he will not be eligible to play in Laval once the regular season comes to an end. That said, with Harris coming close to making the Olympic team for the US, there’s a good chance he’ll get an invite to the World Championships in May.
The contract is fairly hefty considering his draft stock (it’s a contract that’s pretty close to Kaiden Guhle’s, for example) but it reflects the fact that Harris would have been highly sought after if he elected to not sign with Montreal and become an unrestricted free agent in mid-August. Instead, the Habs now have him signed and it probably won’t be long before we see him in the lineup where he’ll wear #54.
Harris’s Stats: