Jay Harrison signed (again) by the Leafs
The rash of injuries on the Maple Leafs’ blueline, coupled with GM Brian Burke’s preference for physical players on the back end, have led the team to re-sign a familiar face.
Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Friday that the hockey club has signed free agent defenceman Jay Harrison for the balance of the 2008-09 regular season. Harrison is expected to join the Leafs on Saturday.
[...]
Harrison, a 26-year-old native of Oshawa, Ontario, played this past season for Zug of the Swiss Elite League. In 41 games played with Zug, he collected 15 points on six goals and nine assists. He ranked second on the team with 96 penalty minutes. He also played for Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2008 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland and helped Canada finish second in the tournament.
Harrison was originally Toronto’s fourth choice, selected 82nd overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’4, 211-pound defenceman played 13 games for the Leafs from 2005 to 2007 and registered one assist with eight penalty minutes.
Word from the grapevine is Harrison impressed the Leafs’ brass with his international play. When he became a free agent following the 2007-08 season, he was not re-signed due to a logjam of defenders in the Leafs’ system, as well the progression of Phil Oreskovic, who plays a very similar game to Harrison but boasts a higher upside.
Personally, I always liked Harrison’s game and am happy to see him back in the fold, even if it is just to fill a roster spot due to injury. Although his hockey future is most likely as an AHL regular with occasional NHL spot duty, he has showed in past Leaf stints that he can be effective in a limited (3rd pairing) role. At the very least, his experiences in the AHL, NHL, IIHF and European leagues ought to make him an excellent mentor for the younger Marlies, should he be retained beyond the remainder of this season.
garrettbauman@mapleleafshotstove.com
March 27th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I always like him, he played really hard and blocked shots. I think we will see him if we run into injury trouble next year with the Leafs
March 27th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Know what I like? His career playoff stats. Good numbers for a shutdown defender. The sign of a guy who shows up in the big games.
.
I don’t expect him to ever have a huge NHL impact, but he is useful player to have in the system as he can fill in for injury at the NHL level in a pinch. I do think that he can have positive impact on young players coming to the Marlies, not just as a guy who has played at all levels including Europe, but as a guy who knows what it means to earn a job and what it takes to earn a shot at the next level.
March 28th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Now there’s a guy that has “future coach” written all over him.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Who got injured?
and Harrison/Oreskovic/Frogren all play a similar game
March 28th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
@Dan:
.
Tomas Kaberle, Mike Van Ryn, Jonas Frogren, and the recently-acquired Eric Reitz are all out of the lineup.
.
That leaves Ian White, Luke Schenn, Anton Stralman, Pavel Kubina, Jeff Finger and Phil Oreskovic as the current Maple Leafs blueline corps.
.
Jamie Sifers could have been recalled from the AHL instead, I suppose, but the Marlies are already dangerously thin on the blueline due to the callups of Oreskovic and Stralman.
.
Sifers has already shown what he can do. Now Harrison is getting a shot to prove that he belongs also. If he plays well, he – like Sifers – may earn consideration for a position next season not only as an AHL regular, but at the top of the NHL club’s call-up list, also.
.
My guess is Harrison is only with the NHL club until one of the injured defenders returns to the lineup, at which point he will be sent to the Marlies. Might only be a game or two, but perhaps more if the team decides it is in their best interest to shut down Frogren or Kaberle for the rest of the year (Van Ryn was deemed ‘out for the season’ not too long ago, himself).
March 28th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I have always like his game. Bitched in many a post last year as the leafs were playing Wozniewski ahead of Harrison.
.
Apparently he was looking for a one way contract this year and when it wasn’t forthcoming the headed to the Swiss league.
.
Tonight’s stats? Plus 1 with almost 8 minutes of ice time.
.
Personally I think he is a year or two ahead of Oreskovic.
.
Cheers
March 28th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Sorry…..
.
That is plus 1 with almost 18 minutes of ice time.
Cheers
March 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I am related to Jay!:)
I think he did good last night&I hope to see him play more with the leafs
He is a good guy and a good hockey player!
March 29th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Oddly enough, Harrison played a pretty good offensive game last night. He jumped into the play while the forwards were established in the offensive zone. He came down all the way to the crease twice. Interesting to see good offensive numbers (6 goals in 40 games in Europe is good offensive production, especially for a defensive d-man like Harrison)
I have always been a big fan of Jay Harrison, he’s big, tough, and mean. With Schenn, The Ostrich, and Finger the defense core was tough last night. If Reitz gets added to the mix, and guys like Frogren, Sifers are around, the Leafs have a wealth of tough defenseman. They also have big Pavel Kubina (99% chance he gets traded, don’t you think?), Tomas Kaberle (90% chance he gets traded), and young Stralman who might be able to take up a role.
I’d be most willing to part with a couple d-men and try to land some forwards in the same mold. Either way, this blueline has an identity, and it reminds me of the early 90′s blue line, with a lot of steady d-men that weren’t necessarily spectacular. Now if only we can find a Gilmour and Clark combo at forward.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Your article is write very well, I like it very much ~
ghd Hair Straightener
ghd Hair Straighteners
ghd straighteners
GHD
hair straighteners
bose in ear headphones
bose on ear headphones
bose in ear
bose on ear
bose headphones for sale
buy bose headphones
nike sb dunks
nike dunks
I wish you have a wonderful day!Thank you.