“I’m super excited for it. I think I’m going in ready and I’m just going to try to make the team.”
Do you know how long ago he said that? 81 days. It has been just 81 days since I last spoke with Seth Jarvis at the 2021 Neely Cup. Just 81 days ago, Seth Jarvis was still in Portland with the Winterhawks. Today, he plays in his tenth NHL game with the Carolina Hurricanes, burning the first year of his ELC and ensuring he is in the NHL for good. No longer can he return to the WHL to help with the slow start his junior team has gotten off to.
Good. For. Him.
Jarvis gave a little smile as I read that quote back to him.
“I think I did okay. I think I did good on that.”
Okay? Yeah, he nailed it.
“Hope so,” was all he had in response as he just continued to calmly beam. There is no doubt that fans of the Carolina Hurricanes organization wholeheartedly agree. Heck, fans of the entire NHL at this point.
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What about the rookie tournament?
Backing up a bit to our last interview, I had to ask if he did end up seeing John Ludvig and Jaydon Dureau during the rookie tournament they were all at.
“Yeah, I saw Johnny, played against him, and then I saw Jaydon a bunch. Way too much.”
He didn’t have a ton to elaborate on, they were focused on their own teams and showing their individual abilities, but Jarvis enjoyed being able to see the guys again.
“It was awesome. It was nice seeing Jonny again and Jaydon’s… so Jaydon.”
He is not wrong. Jaydon Dureau, recently back from his own stint in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, is Jaydon.
After splitting last season between the AHL and WHL, how has it been this year?
“Oh, awesome. It’s been great so far and everyone’s been awesome to me so it’s been sweet.”
It’s nice to hear he’s gotten some consistency this season. After having to adjust from one level of play to another, Jarvis has taken this opportunity at hockey’s highest level and has absolutely run with it. Three goals in his last three games and five points through the first nine games of his career are nothing to ignore. Throw in those two overturned goals and you absolutely cannot ignore what Jarvis is doing with Carolina. The 19-year-old forward has not lost a step at any level and he’s being rewarded for it.
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Role in Carolina vs Role in Portland
“Yeah I feel like here I’m still put in an offensive role which is kind of the same.”
While the Winterhawks are feeling the loss of his offensive prowess, it’s still being put to work while he is able to fine-tune his game. He’s looking at the big picture, not just how many points he can put up. Though, the points are nice.
“I think obviously, in the NHL you’re surrounded by really good players. I feel like in Portland I feel like I had to carry a little bit of the load and really focus on scoring. Here, I can really focus on other parts of my game that I want to develop. So I can focus on away from the puck and stuff like that while still scoring and trying to put up points.”
With all of that said, that experience with the Winterhawks is what got him to Carolina.
Preparation in the Rose City
Just how does the Winnipeg native see how his time in Portland got him there? He opened up a bit about how he recognized how much time with the Winterhawks did for his development.
“I think it did an amazing job. I think without them I wouldn’t feel as comfortable and confident in myself and my game as I am right now. I think just being around that environment, being around those coaches, you couldn’t draw up a better place to develop as a young guy.”
With 145 players drafted to the NHL from the Portland Winterhawks organization, it’s impossible to disagree.
Speaking of the Winterhawks…
Has he been keeping up with his teammates at all? Watching how they’ve been doing?
“Yeah. We keep in touch. I FaceTime Kozy [Tyson Kozak] almost every day. Talk to Cross [Hanas] , Clay [Hanus] , Jaydon all those guys. We’ve been keeping in touch.”
He wouldn’t comment about the standings but that they’re working. Good things are starting to happen for his junior team and it’s coming as no surprise.
When asked if he’s been giving any of those guys advice in their talks, he rolled his head back a little and jokingly let out a groan of frustration.
“Well they don’t listen to me. They don’t care about what I say so, no, not really.”
It’s okay, though. It’s all about finding your stride, no matter who you are or where you are.
Though, if they won’t listen to him, who among them WOULD they listen to?
Who would he cast his ballot for in terms of Winterhawks captaincy?
As the Portland Winterhawks have yet to name a captain, I had to see who his recommendation would be.
He laughed a bit because it’s another one of those tough questions, if a little more serious than from our last conversation.
“That’s a great question. I think when Kade was there I would have said Kade but I’d have to say, Clay. He’s been there the longest and I think he’s someone that can kind of show the way for the young guys.”
Like Dawson Pasternak, eh? (If you haven’t read the Seth Jarvis Neely Cup interview, you really should)
Anyway, there you have it. The Clay Hanus for captain campaign starts here.
That first goal feeling
In case you somehow missed it, Seth Jarvis scored his first NHL goal on Marc-Andre Fleury and the Chicago Blackhawks.
“Biggest one was change of speed, not having to go 110 miles an hour every time I touch the puck. Slowing it down, analyzing a bit more, and then being able to turn it on pretty quick and have a good first couple steps to really burn by people."
-Seth Jarvis https://t.co/v8efR6wAHz— Lizz Child (@LizzChild) November 4, 2021
At the Neely Cup, Jarvis mentioned he wanted to show off his change of speed and how much more thought he put into his movements. That worked out very well for him for his first in the NHL.
“Yeah, I thought that worked out really well. I was just kinda moving my feet and then obviously having a few quick strides to kind of break away from the defenseman. I’m going to say that I did that move on purpose but I don’t know if I did.”
It’s okay, like I said earlier, Seth. Don’t worry. I’ll keep saying you did… Because he definitely did. 100% that is the truth.
No turning back now
With tonight’s game in San Jose, Jarvis will be appearing in the 10th game of his NHL career. Unfortunately for Winterhawks fans, he won’t be returning to play at the Glass Palace, but that is all okay because he’s got an even bigger stage for good now. Oh, and he’s just having fun with it. That’s it. That’s the mindset heading into tonight’s game.
“Just kinda trying to have fun. Just enjoy the moment.”
Just to prove his point, at that moment a teammate walked by and poked at him a little.
“I’m surrounded by idiots like him so it’s been awesome you know, just enjoy the moment. It’s another game early in my career. New building, new environment so it’ll be cool to just kind of take it all in.”
Advice he’d give himself a year ago
Seth Jarvis is all about the fun.
“Just keep having fun. Keep being yourself and don’t take things too seriously.”
Honestly, that’s just solid advice for any time, even if you’re not on the cusp of being an NHL star or in talks for the Calder. You know, which are just Seth Jarvis things.
One last thing…
At this point, most of the hockey Twitterverse has seen the pre-game clip of Jarvis running in the hall between all the guys. I think we’d all like to know what the heck is going on. Don’t stop though.
“I dunno, just get the legs moving, gets the guys going. I think everybody gets a little bit of energy and that’s what I’m here to do. Bring a lot of energy.”
Alright, that’s it I guess. Now onto the game tonight as the San Jose Sharks host the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop is at 7:30 pm and depending on where you live, you might be able to watch it.
