Montreal Canadiens: Jordan Harris crucial to defensive zone efforts

The Montreal Canadiens have gotten a lot out of their younger defenseman. Players still learning the ropes of the NHL and finding their groove have been crushing things lately for the Habs. Jordan Harris is one of those players who has excelled.

While the Montreal Canadiens are seeing Kaiden Guhle overachieve and look great on the team’s blueline, Jordan Harris has quietly been crucial for the team’s defensive zone efforts. For Harris, the scoresheet may not always be littered with his name, but it’s the play on defense that stands out.

Harris’s effort has been a little clouded by some of the Habs’ other players, but there’s something to be said about his play early on in the 2022-23 season. He has been improving, which is exactly what the Habs should be hoping for from the young defender.

Montreal Canadiens seeing Jordan Harris greatly assist defensive zone efforts.

Harris has just 25 games under his belt over the last two seasons. He got a 10-game trial run out of the way in 2021-22 after getting his first taste of the NHL game with the Habs. He made the team in 2022-23, being part of the Hab’s thin defense core that has played well given the low expectations coming into the season.

Over 15 games in 2022-23, Harris has added four assists to his line for his four points for the Canadiens. As mentioned, Harris is not always finding his way on the scoresheet but is bringing value in other ways for the Habs.

Harris has seen an increase in average ice time from where he was in his 10-game trial last season. He’s sitting around 19:58 on average this season and has been able to produce quality shifts.

Harris has a 56.5% dZS% which implies that he’s spending more of his ice time in the defensive zone and starting his shifts there. It lines up with the area that Harris has excelled the most. He has 30 blocked shots which is second on the Habs behind David Savard, who has been a workhorse of his own in 2022-23.

But Harris has been able to be smart with the puck on his stick. Now, I’m not talking about the offensive zone. Though he does have 40 shots in 2022-23 with a 55% Thru% for 22 shots on goal, but that is beside the point.

Harris has done an excellent job aiding the transition game. Harris has been smooth on the breakout and is showing a strong development of his hockey IQ. He has been able to help the Habs get moving out of their zone and excel in the breakout moving out of the defensive zone.

According to his Corsi For rating relative to the team, he’s 3.6% above the team average. He may be under the 50% threshold, but it implies that Harris does a good job making sure the puck is back on the Habs stick when he’s on the ice more often than not.

It’s got to be rewarding to see Harris find this type of success. Being able to be a valuable part of the breakout and the play in the defensive zone only helps the Habs in the long run. After all, this season is focused on development, and Harris being able to keep learning along the way only helps him.

Keep in mind Harris is just 22 years old with plenty to learn. But his play in 2022-23 deserves a pat on the back to this point. He’s quietly been getting the job done when the Habs have needed it.