Jarvis focused on NHL opportunity

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This article was published 29/12/2020 (1712 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE ink was barely dry on his first pro contract and Seth Jarvis was meeting the new boss in person for the first time Monday.

Somewhere in a sea of masked men was Rod Brind’Amour, head coach of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

Jarvis, Carolina’s newly signed first-round pick from the 2020 draft, scanned the crowd and froze momentarily before hearing Brind’Amour’s familiar voice welcoming him to the big leagues.

Those early jitters aside, Raleigh, N.C., is a place the 18-year-old Winnipegger wants to call home this season after signing an entry-level three-year deal Monday worth US$2.775 million.

He plans to defy the odds to earn a regular job in the NHL or on the Hurricanes’ six-man taxi squad.

“Obviously, my No. 1 goal is to make the team and to have a roster spot but I think that the taxi squad is kind of my backup plan and my second goal,” said Jarvis by phone from Raleigh on Tuesday. “I think any kind of experience you can get practising with an NHL team the whole year or living on your own for the first time, I think it would be great for me.”

Jarvis flew out Saturday to join the Hurricanes for informal workouts prior to the start of training camp on Jan. 3.

As an 18-year-old, he must play in the NHL or return to the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. He’ll be the youngest player in camp and one of only two junior invitees.

“Most of the team if not the whole team is down here and I would say probably 10 or 12 AHL guys and then myself and (19-year-old centre) Jamieson Rees, the two young guys,” said Jarvis, a right-winger. “Initially I think I’ve done a pretty good job of just kind of blending in and just kind of meeting everyone…

“So far, I made some good relationships and I’ve met a lot of the guys. It’s been nice just get down here, kind of started talking to guys and seeing what it’s like living down here.”

The Winterhawks, who have championship aspirations, would be a fine landing spot but Jarvis is focusing on the more ambitious goal.

“(Portland’s) certainly not a bad place to go back to but I think in the next two or three weeks I want to see myself still here, still kicking, whether it’s still working for a roster spot or hopefully announced as part of the team or part of the taxi squad,” said Jarvis. “That’s kinda on my mind right now. I’m just trying to make a good impression.”

His agent, Scott Bonner, encourages this aggressive approach. The WHL has revised its season start date twice and hasn’t declared a new target date.

“There’s so much unknown,” said Bonner. “I deal with the Western league pretty much every day — different people in the league and no one can give an answer as to if or when they’re going to start. So every player we have that is with an NHL team, or so forth, I just pray that they have a place to stay.

“If the Western Hockey League should start up or American (Hockey) League should start up, they get to go there. In Seth’s case, we know a Portland’s a great spot (with) great coaches. But our message always to those kids is you go (to the NHL) and you try to take a job.”

Jarvis has successfully navigated the pandemic closures, finding ways to remain active.

Prior to a month in a bubble at Team Canada’s world junior selection camp in Red Deer, Alta., he spent a week in Vancouver training with Montreal Canadiens veteran forward Brendan Gallagher, another player represented by Bonner. Jarvis was one of Canada’s final cuts prior to the tournament.

Bonner believes his client is well-positioned to make sending him back to junior a difficult decision.

“Everyone knows that he has tons of skill,” said Bonner. “But he’s equally competitive, so I think he’s gonna make a good impression for sure.”

In the meantime, Jarvis will have to get used to having more money in his pocket. His signing bonus this year and in each of the two subsequent seasons is US$92,500.

“My goal is it isn’t going to change me at all, no matter if I’m making hundreds of thousands of dollars or still making $250 every two weeks in the WHL,” said Jarvis, who plans to buy his mom, Tracey Shields-Jarvis, a primary school teacher, a new car.

“I’m going to keep the same personality and the same personality traits from what my parents taught me. It’s nice to have a little bit more money but it ultimately means nothing right now.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14