Bruins Reportedly Sign Forward With Local Ties In NHL Free Agency

The Boston Bruins signed defenseman Jordan Harris on the first day of free agency, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Harris played the 2024-25 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, skating in 33 games, tallying one goal and four assists.

After the season, the Blue Jackets decided not to give the 24-year-old a qualifying offer, allowing him to negotiate a contract with any team. The Bruins moved quickly.

Harris has local ties after growing up in Haverhill, Mass., and playing for Northeastern University.

With Northeastern, he played four seasons and was named captain in his senior year. During his senior year, Harris was ranked second in total blocked shots in Hockey East and was tied for 11th in the nation.

The 5-foot-11, 187-pound defenseman was successful at TD Garden while in college. Harris scored in double overtime against Boston University to win the Beanpot for Northeastern in 2020.

He was originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round (No. 71) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He skated with the Canadiens for three seasons, playing 131 games and tallying eight goals and 24 assists.

When he made the move to Columbus in the Patrik Laine trade, he struggled defensively. He was a regular healthy scratch, averaging 11:23 minutes of ice time when he was on the ice.

With a change of scenery, Harris could become effective with the Bruins in a more familiar setting.

The move marks Boston’s third acquisition on Tuesday, also acquiring forwards Tanner Jeannot and Viktor Arvidsson.