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It was business as usual for most people in Brossard this morning but not for Jordan Harris as it was announced that he signed a brand new 2-year contract. The 22 year-old had signed a 2-year entry level contract last season after his season ended in the NCAA but he burnt the first year of it by playing 10 games with the Habs at the tail end of their disastrous season. As a result, he would have been a RFA at the end of the current season.
The 2-year 2 way deal carries a 1.8 M AAV and is a pretty good deal for GM Kent Hugues. Harris has been playing solid hockey for the Habs this season putting up 11 points in 47 games and even though there’s quite a gap between NCAA and NHL hockey, you wouldn’t know it watching the youngster play in the big league.
He’s showed calm and confidence on and off the ice, even commenting on the Provorov and Rangers Pride night situation: “We preach that hockey is for everyone but is it really?” he said. “The actions of the Rangers and Provorov show that there are many things that happen behind closed doors and that ensure that acceptance, in hockey, is not for everyone”. To those who say that the young defenseman should stick to hockey, I say it’s refreshing to see someone so young speak out for something they believe in. Saying this doesn’t mean he doesn’t respect Provorov’s freedom of religion either as Pride Night is not about supporting a lifestyle but just about inclusion, saying that no one should be excluded from the game, that discrimination and using certain words as insults are a thing of the past, there’s a difference.
Prior to the team practice, Kaiden Guhle skated for the first time since his knee injury and both Edmundson and Monahan took to the ice for a second day in a row. As for Joel Armia, he practiced with the team in a no-contact jersey, which means he’s obviously not ready to return for tomorrow’s game against the Islanders.
Line-up wise, the lines and pairings used were pretty much the same as yesterday’s with Drouin centering the 4th line. In his post-practice presser, coach St-Louis said that it’s a possibility that Drouin could return tomorrow. While he’s keeping his cards close to his chest, I believe St-Louis is eager to go back to a 12-6 formation and that chances are Drouin will be playing tomorrow and Wideman will be a healthy scratch.
The Canadiens also announced that goaltender Samuel Montembeault was the Molson Cup winner for the month of January. This was hardly a surprise considering how well the young netminder did in Jake Allen’s absence. He had a 4-6-0 record, a 3.15 GAA and a SP of .915, while these numbers wouldn’t be seen as excellent normally, with the way the team was playing in front of him, they were about as good as they could be.
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