Jansen Harkins Bio
Jansen Michael Harkins is an American–Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a center for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Harkins has built his career through perseverance, bouncing between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL) before establishing himself as a reliable depth forward. In addition to his time with the Jets, he has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Early Life and Background
Jansen Michael Harkins was born on May 23, 1997, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Although born in Ohio, he grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia, giving him dual American and Canadian citizenship. Hockey quickly became the centerpiece of his childhood, influenced heavily by his father, Todd Harkins, a former NHL player whose career gave Jansen an early understanding of the demands of professional hockey.
Raised in a hockey family in North Vancouver, Harkins developed his skills in Canadian youth systems. The proximity to competitive junior hockey and the guidance of a father who had played in the NHL provided a strong foundation. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 183 pounds, Harkins developed the frame and skating ability required to compete at higher levels of the sport.
Path to Hockey
Harkins entered the major junior ranks when the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) selected him second overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. He debuted with the Cougars in the 2012–13 season and quickly progressed, appearing in 67 games during his first full WHL season in 2013–14. That same year, he served as team captain for Canada Pacific at the 2014 World Hockey Challenge, signaling his leadership qualities at a young age.
By the 2014–15 season, Harkins was leading Prince George in scoring with 20 goals and 59 assists, setting a new team record for assists in the process. He was selected to play in the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game as part of Team Orr and won the Dan Hamhuis Award as the most valuable player of the Prince George Cougars. Across his WHL career, Harkins became the Cougars’ all-time leader in both assists and points, finishing his junior career in 2016–17 with 21 goals and 51 assists in 64 games.
Jansen Harkins Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Following the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Harkins signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate, on April 2, 2016. He recorded one goal and three points in six games with the Moose before signing a three-year entry-level contract with Winnipeg on April 7, 2017. He began the 2017–18 season in the AHL, scoring only two goals in 46 games, which led to a reassignment to the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen in January 2018 to help rebuild his confidence.
Harkins spent the entire 2018–19 season with the Manitoba Moose, where he rediscovered his offensive game with 15 goals in 70 games. His strong play carried into the 2019–20 campaign, during which he posted 31 points in 30 AHL games and was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for November 2019. He was also named Manitoba’s most valuable player for the 2019–20 season and participated in the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.
NHL Breakthrough with the Winnipeg Jets (2019–2023)
Recalled by the Jets in December 2019 after injuries to Andrew Copp and Mathieu Perreault, Harkins made his NHL debut on December 21, 2019, in a 6–0 victory over the Minnesota Wild, earning his first NHL point with an assist on Logan Shaw’s third-period goal. He scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Jordan Binnington on February 6, 2020, in a 4–2 win over the St. Louis Blues, while also assisting on Andrew Copp’s game-winning tally for his first multi-point performance.
His rookie season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, but he returned for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs qualifying round, appearing in three games and scoring his first playoff goal on August 3 against Cam Talbot in a 3–2 victory over the Calgary Flames. The Jets re-signed Harkins to a two-year contract on October 27, 2020. He played the full 2020–21 season with Winnipeg and set career highs in 2021–22 with 77 games, 7 goals, 6 assists, and 13 points, later re-signing with the Jets on July 16, 2022, to a two-year contract worth $1.7 million.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2023–2024)
Claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 2, 2023, Harkins made his Penguins debut in the season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 10, 2023. After a brief stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL, he returned to the NHL roster and carved out a regular role on Pittsburgh’s fourth line alongside Jeff Carter and Noel Acciari, finishing the year with 4 assists in 45 NHL games and 12 points in 14 AHL contests.
Anaheim Ducks Era (2024–Present)
As an unrestricted free agent after the 2023–24 season, Harkins signed a two-year, $1.575 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 2, 2024. He began the 2024–25 season with the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, after clearing waivers during training camp. He was recalled by Anaheim on October 18 and made his Ducks debut that night against the Colorado Avalanche before being returned to San Diego, then recalled again on November 13.
Driving Style and Strengths
Harkins is recognized as a responsible two-way center whose strongest contributions come in defensive-zone coverage, face-offs, and penalty killing. His skating, hockey IQ, and willingness to play a physical, detail-oriented game have allowed him to thrive in bottom-six and fourth-line roles, and his development through the AHL has made him a reliable depth option for Anaheim.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Harkins’ career include his NHL debut point against the Minnesota Wild, his first NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues, his first playoff goal against the Calgary Flames, and his place as the Prince George Cougars’ all-time leader in assists and points. He also represented Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, winning gold, and earned a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.
Jansen Harkins Career Wins
Jansen Michael Harkins’ professional career is still developing, and his statistical milestones reflect steady progress from junior standout to NHL role player. He has produced consistent point totals across the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and San Diego Gulls, while contributing in a depth capacity at the NHL level.
NHL Highlights
Harkins has recorded regular-season NHL points with the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Anaheim Ducks. His most productive NHL season came in 2021–22, when he set career highs with 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points, and 77 games played for the Jets. He also scored his first NHL playoff goal during the 2020 qualifying round against the Calgary Flames.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, Harkins earned recognition as Manitoba’s most valuable player for the 2019–20 season and was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for November 2019. Internationally, he helped Canada win gold at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and capture bronze at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.
Jansen Harkins Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Jansen Harkins comes from a hockey family. His father, Todd Harkins, is a former NHL player who introduced Jansen to the sport at a young age. Growing up around the game gave Jansen valuable insight into the demands and lifestyle of professional hockey, helping shape his path through junior and professional ranks.
Personal Life
Although born in Cleveland, Ohio, Harkins was raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and holds dual American and Canadian citizenship. He continues to focus on his professional hockey career with the Anaheim Ducks organization, balancing time between the NHL club and its AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Jansen Michael Harkins is in the second year of a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, providing organizational center depth between the NHL club and the San Diego Gulls. After clearing waivers during the 2024 training camp, he split early-season duty between the AHL and Anaheim, earning recalls in October and November 2024. His two-way play and penalty-killing reliability remain his clearest path to consistent NHL ice time.
With Anaheim continuing its rebuild, Harkins is positioned as a veteran depth presence who can step into the lineup when needed while mentoring younger forwards in the AHL. The Ducks’ emphasis on development gives him an opportunity to cement a steady role on the fourth line or contribute on the penalty kill. Continued strong showings in San Diego would likely translate into further NHL opportunities as the season progresses.