Reilly Walsh Signs with New Jersey Devils

The hits keep coming for Harvard, as they have now lost a fourth player to the professional hockey ranks since the Ivy League announced that all sports would be cancelled until at least January 1st of this year. This time, it is rising senior defenseman Reilly Walsh who has signed an entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Walsh was a third round pick, selected 81st overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Draft. Here is a scouting report on Walsh from the fall of 2017 as a rookie with Harvard. Since then, he has continued to develop as a more mature, responsible defenseman, while still being a playmaker on the offensive end.

It’s another big loss for Harvard, as Walsh was one of the key components on the nation’s best power play last season. Walsh joins fellow defenseman Jack Rathbone(Vancouver Canucks), Jack Drury(Swedish Elite League), and Henry Bowlby(Florida Panthers) as players to sign pro contracts since the Ivy League decision to cancel sports through at least January 1st. Though at this point, it remains unclear if Harvard will even be able to start their season as planned on January 1st, or if they will be subject to further postponements.