Jack Rathbone’s signing with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday represented the first real casualty of Harvard’s inability to compete in college athletics until at least January. When news started to trickle out last week that the Ivy League wouldn’t play sports during the fall semester, it became more likely that Rathbone, a 2018 Dexter Southfield...
Jack Rathbone’s signing with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday represented the first real casualty of Harvard’s inability to compete in college athletics until at least January.
When news started to trickle out last week that the Ivy League wouldn’t play sports during the fall semester, it became more likely that Rathbone, a 2018 Dexter Southfield alum, would forgo his final two seasons of eligibility with the Crimson.
A 1999 birth-year player from West Roxbury, Mass., Rathbone was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Canucks. In two college seasons at Harvard, Rathbone continued to demonstrate that he had high offensive upside.
Rathbone recorded 14 goals and added 39 assists for 53 points in 61 games with the Crimson. A left-shot defender, Rathbone long has been known for his hard one-timer and accurate wrist shot from the point. He’s flashy with his trademark fake slap shot and rush up the ice or home-run passes to streaking wingers.
His play away from the puck has been a question for a couple of years, but the Canucks organization is sold on his potential as a power-play quarterback with puck-moving capabilities from the back end.
Rathbone’s contract with Vancouver is a three-year deal with the rest of this season being a burn year. However, he won’t be eligible to compete in the NHL’s return-to-play tournament.
If Harvard is allowed to begin playing in January, Rathbone’s departure hurts its chances of being a title contender. Still, Ted Donato and his staff have put together a terrific roster and should be in contention for a top 10 national ranking.
Over the course of the past 14 months, three Harvard blueliners have signed NHL contracts. Adam Fox and John Marino stepped right in for the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, respectively. Rathbone will be given every chance to join them when the 2020-21 NHL season kicks off, whenever that may be.
