Jordan Harris

The Montreal Canadiens announced that they have signed defenseman Jordan Harris to a two-year, entry-level contract that will begin this season. Harris, 21, was the Canadiens’ third-round pick in 2018, 71st overall, and had spent the last four years in the NCAA at Northeastern University.

Harris’ contract is for two seasons, including this one. The deal will pay Harris $750,000 per season at the NHL level, includes numerous bonuses along the way, and carries an $842.5K cap hit (link). The young defenseman had been rumored to make the jump to the NHL after he finished his fourth NCAA season recently. With Montreal”s struggles this season, and their trades of Ben Chiarot and Brett Kulak, the team has room to get a real look at Harris down the stretch. Harris is considered to be a good puck-mover, a proficient skater who can excel on both sides of the puck, and will have the ability to exceed at the NHL level.

Although Harris’ NCAA numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, he did help lead the team to strong performances all four years, and Captained this year’s Huskies to a spot in this season’s NCAA men’s hockey playoff. Over four years, Harris tallied 73 points in 129 games for Northeastern, including five goals and 15 assists in 39 games this season. It’s unclear when Harris will debut for Montreal, however he figures to join the team in the coming days.

After a hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful game against Western Michigan today, Jordan Harris and the rest of Northeastern’s season is over. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Harris is now expected to sign with the Montreal Canadiens, a two-year entry-level contract that will start this season, allowing him to enter the lineup down the stretch.

Harris, 21, was picked by the Canadiens in 2018, 71st overall, and could potentially become an unrestricted free agent should he fail to sign with them by August 15. That seemed unlikely even before Kent Hughes became general manager, but especially now given his long history with the young defenseman. Riley Hughes, Kent’s son, has played with Harris for many years, including for the last three at Northeastern, where they were also joined this season by his other son Jack Hughes, a top prospect for the 2022 draft.

There was actually a lot of chatter about Harris last year, but he eventually decided to return for his senior season, where he was once again outstanding. The slightly undersized defenseman had five goals and 20 points in 38 games and served as captain of the Huskies. He was named Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman and to the conference First All-Star Team. A Hobey Baker nominee once again, he should step almost directly into the Montreal lineup, if even for a handful of games after the contract is over.

He’s not the only top prospect on Northeastern who could sign soon. Devon Levi also put the finishing touches on one of the greatest goaltending seasons in NCAA history, and will now have to choose whether or not to turn pro and join the Buffalo Sabres organization. Levi, 20, had a .952 save percentage in 31 appearances, tying Connor Hellebuyck for the second-best number since 2000 at the college level (Jimmy Howard‘s .956 for the University of Maine is first).

Others, like Vancouver Canucks prospect Aidan Mcdonough and Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Colangelo will also have to make a decision on whether or not to turn pro.