The Canes’ Seth Jarvis is getting paid. What playing a 10th NHL game means for the rookie
Seth Jarvis is staying put, just as many expected.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ rookie forward will be in the lineup for his 10th NHL game on Monday against the San Jose Sharks, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the morning skate. That will activate the first year of his three-year, entry-level contract with the Canes that pays him $832,500 at the NHL level.
The Canes’ other option would have been to return Jarvis, 19, to his junior hockey team, the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, after nine games. That’s not going to happen. He’s staying and playing.
Jarvis was on the Canes’ roster as the season began but did not play until forward Nino Niederreiter suffered an injury Oct. 29 against Chicago. Jarvis made his NHL debut Oct. 31 against Arizona, playing on the fourth line and picking up an assist for his first NHL point, but has since earned a spot on the top line at right wing and played Monday with center Sebastian Aho and winger Teuvo Teravainen.
Jarvis has delivered. He has goals in each of the past three games and four in his nine games. He also has had two goals disallowed -- the first when he was offside entering the offensive zone and the second on what appeared to be a premature referee’s whistle.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Aho said Saturday after the Canes’ 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings. “He’s a good kid, he can really skate and he’s a smart player. I just try to find him and, obviously, he can score.”
Jarvis was the Canes’ first-round draft pick in 2020 and the 13th overall pick. That came after the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native finished up his third season with the Winterhawks with 42 goals and 98 points in 58 games.
When the the WHL was delayed in starting up for the 2020-21 season because of the pandemic, Jarvis was allowed to compete for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. He got in nine games and was leading the league with 11 points when WHL training camps began and he was assigned by the Canes to Portland.
There is no AHL option this season for Jarvis. Under the agreement the NHL has with the Canadian Hockey League, he must either play for the Canes this season or be returned to Portland. If returned, at any point of the NHL season, he could not rejoin Carolina until after the Winterhawks’ season was completed.
When Jarvis signed his entry-level contract on Dec. 28, 2020, Canes president and general manager Don Waddell said the team was “excited to watch him continue his development into an NHL player.” That development has come quicker than expected.
Jarvis played so well in a prospects showcase event host by the Tampa Bay Lightning in September that one NHL scout called him the best player at the event. Then it was on to the Canes’ preseason training camp.
“My goal is to try and crack their roster,” Jarvis said before camp began in an interview with the News & Observer. “I’ll do everything in my power to make my way on there and make their decision as hard as possible. I want to put my best foot forward and show what I can do.”
This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 3:23 PM.
