CBJ Top 25 Under 25: #25 Scott Harrington

Welcome to Buckeye State Hockey’s inaugural Columbus Blue Jackets “Top 25 Under 25.” Ten Buckeye State Hockey staffers have gone through every under-25 player in the Blue Jackets organization, at every level of hockey, and formulated their own rankings. We’ve compiled the results and then deliberated the findings, coming to an agreed upon conclusion of how the young players stack up against one another. In our minds, our rankings show these 25 players and prospects as the cream of the Columbus crop.

Without further adieu, here’s #25 on the list, a new face to the team this year:

Scott Harrington

Most likely the second biggest surprise move by the Blue Jackets on draft weekend was the trade of Kerby Rychel to Toronto for defenseman Scott Harrington. While Rychel being dealt was not really surprising, the at-first-glance minimal-ish return of a 23 year old AHL/NHL tweener defenseman seemed a bit lacking in “oomph”. Many are wondering: what exactly does Scott Harrington bring to the table?

The Kingston, Ontario-born Harrington was drafted in the second round by Pittsburgh back in 2011, eventually playing two seasons in the Penguins organization before becoming part of the package that brought Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh on July 1, 2015. After putting up 24 points in 76 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in his rookie year, Harrington’s offense has stagnated – he had 12 points in 48 games in his second season with the Baby Pens, and just 3 in 17 this past season with the powerhouse Toronto Marlies squad, before succumbing to a season-ending upper-body injury in January.

One thing Harrington has going for him that a lot of his other young Blue Jackets defenders do not is NHL experience. His time has been limited – 25 games over two seasons with Pittsburgh (10) and Toronto (15), averaging 14:10 of ice time per game – but it all counts!

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At the NHL level, the 6’2”, 216 pound Harrington has produced a single assist, a secondary tally on a Leo Komarov goal against Montreal last season (highlighted above). Most of his ice time has been spent at even strength, with nearly 327 of his 354 NHL minutes coming at evens. In those games, Harrington averages about a minute of PK time per game, showing that he’s at least somewhat being given a chance to establish himself as a defensively responsible player.

At even strength, Harrington sports an ugly 30% goals for rate during his 25 NHL games, thanks to a horrific 88% on-ice save percentage from his goalies. His over-all 94.12 PDO unfortunately serves to mask some positive underlying numbers. Notably, Harrington’s 52.3% Corsi, and 53.75% scoring chance rates are favourable both as standalone numbers, and when comparing to his teammates. Breaking it down further, his Corsi For per 60 and Corsi Against per 60 are both better than average, indicating that he’s pushing play in the right direction both offensively and defensively, even if the goals haven’t come yet.

Harrington has spent nearly a third of his even strength ice time playing with noted cement-block-on-skates Roman Polak. Though the pair did not exactly light up the league, their 48.1% Corsi rate was still about equal to Toronto’s team average. It was when Harrington got the chance to play with actual above average players that his numbers really shone through. In 120 minutes playing with one of Kris Letang, Jake Gardiner or Morgan Rielly, Harrington put up a 56.4% Corsi For and a 56.25% scoring chance rate, both marks way above the relative average for the rest of the team, and above the averages of those players without Harrington. Small sample size, of course, but it paints a picture of promise that Harrington is a competent defensive-oriented partner for a more offensively-inclined teammate.

Future Outlook

Thanks to a season-ending upper body injury, Harrington’s last pro game was on January 3, so he’ll be coming into Blue Jackets camp with a lot of rest and maybe some rust on him. It’s going to be a huge uphill battle for him to make Columbus right away, as he’ll have to outplay two of Cody Goloubef, Zach Werenski, and Dean Kukan to earn a spot as the team’s #6 or #7 defender. More probable is the left-shooting defender finding himself waived during the end-of-camp cuts, with Columbus management hoping to sneak him down to Cleveland unclaimed. There is generally a glut of players like Harrington on the wire around that time, so the chances of him being snapped up will be at their most minimal.

Should he make it to the AHL, Harrington should see significant ice time with the Monsters as a top four option. Cleveland doesn’t project to have the most offensively skilled blueline this season, so there is the opportunity for Harrington to stake a claim to a powerplay slot, in addition to his likely responsibility on the penalty kill.

The underlying numbers in Harrington’s limited NHL time are encouraging. A best case scenario is as a third pairing depth defender, able to move the puck in the right direction and perform admirably at both ends of the ice. If Harrington bounces back well from his injury, he might be able to carve that niche out this season. More likely we see him as an AHL option this year, with a better chance to win an NHL roster spot in 2017/18.

Age: 23 (03/10/1993)
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height/Weight: 6’2″, 205
2015/16 Team: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Likely 2016/17 Destination: Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

– Jeremy
Follow me on Twitter, @307x.

Data via Corsica.Hockey.