It’s kind of surprising that this is Jack Harvey’s first time making the countdown. Can the forward come out of the shadow of some of his more highly-touted teammates to take the next step?
| Name | Jack Harvey |
| Position | Forward |
| Age (as of October 1) | 22 |
| Height/Weight | 5’10”, 176 lbs. |
| Expected 2024-25 Team | Boston University |
| Draft – Year, Round | 2023 7th Round, #193 |
| Previous Rankings | Not Ranked |
| Justin G.’s Rank | 10 |
| Final Rank | 21 |
Stats:
Our Thoughts:
It appears that we are way higher on the potential of Jack Harvey than just about everyone else in the Tampa Bay Lightning community. That’s okay. Sometimes you have an irrational attraction to certain prospects. We won’t lie, there was a time that we thought Jimmie Olvestad was going to be a legit NHL forward for the Bolts simply because he was one of the fastest skaters we’ve seen in the blue and white.
As for Harvey, who is making his Top 25 debut after being eligible for three seasons, we like the fact that unlike some other prospects in the system, he has the potential to be a top-six forward based on his puck-handling skills. Would it take a lot of things going right for him to earn that spot? Sure, but weirder things have happened in the NHL.
This season is going to be a big one for Harvey, who, at 22-years-old, is starting to see his window as a prospect begin to close. The good, and bad, news is that he plays for a powerhouse college program at BU. The good is that a program like this is basically just a few steps below a professional organization. The bad is that, as a seventh-round pick, Harvey is overshadowed by some higher picks. In his freshman season it was Macklin Celebrini. Last year it was Cole Hutson (a second-round pick by Washington) and Cole Eiserman (a first-round pick by the Islanders).
The good news for Lightning fans is that Harvey has held his own with those that have a higher pedigree. As a freshman he worked his way up from fourth line to riding shotgun with Celebrini on BU’s top line. Last year he finished sixth on the team in point with 27 (11 goals, 16 assists) in 40 games. This season will be another one where he is competing with top picks like Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota) and Jack Murtagh (Philadelphia).
If history is any indication, Harvey should flourish with all of the talent around him. At this point he might not be driving the play, but he has the puck skills to create offense. His shot is slightly better than opponents expect, and he can work the puck around the ice with the best of college players.
His size, or lack thereof, is something to keep an eye on this year. While he is a stocky 5’10” he does have to work on his physicality a bit to avoid having larger players knock him off the puck or out of position. He also has a tendency to hold onto the puck a little too much, especially in the offensive zone. Credit to him for trying to find the right play, but as he moves up that space will disappear quicker and it’ll just lead to more turnovers.
For someone that has the offensive skills he possesses, he is also a fairly solid defender and can help a team on the penalty kill. He can stand to engage the play a little bit more. While he has solid offensive skills, they’re not enough for him to play a perimeter game and make it to the NHL. Looking forward to this season, it would be nice to see him drive the play a little more and engage along the boards to battle for pucks.
After being passed over in his first draft-eligible season, there is a feeling that Harvey may be a step behind. A strong collegiate season followed by him signing his entry-level contract in the spring could accelerate that a bit and get him back on track.
Hopefully, he builds on the totals from last year and joins Syracuse in the spring. That will give him a bit of a head start on next season (a la Dylan Duke a few years ago) and he can start working on making it as a professional.
Highlight Videos:
This may be one of the best plays we see from a prospect in this countdown. The one-handed chip between the defender’s legs and the quick snapshot to beat the goaltender is just perfection. This is what Harvey brings to the table that some of the other prospects, even those ranked higher than him don’t.
Shoot from unexpected angles and good things can happen. This is just a goalscorer’s goal. While the goals haven’t quite come at the NCAA level (18 in 60 games) he did pot 40 in 62 games withe the Chicago Steel in his final season in the USHL. The instincts are there and this could be the season he unleashes it as a college player.
Would this play work in the NHL? Probably not. When we talk about his habit of holding onto the puck a little too long, this is an example (even if it led to a goal). The chances of NHL, or even AHL, defenders letting him weave to the front of the net is pretty slim. That being said, it shows his ability to handle the puck in small spaces. To finish it off with the nice little wrister is the chef’s kiss.
