Scott Harrington

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    Image of Player Scott Harrington

    Scott Harrington Bio

    Scott Harrington, born on March 10, 1993, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 205 pounds, Harrington is known for his steady two-way play and his ability to contribute on both the power play and penalty kill. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2011 NHL entry draft. Throughout his professional journey, he has suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League, before returning to North America and joining the Belleville Senators.

    Early Life and Background

    Scott Harrington was born on March 10, 1993, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, to his parents Pat and Cindy. Growing up in Kingston, a city with a strong hockey tradition, Harrington was introduced to the sport at a young age. His younger sister, Holly, also played ice hockey growing up, which helped shape a family environment centered around the game. From early on, Harrington showed a natural talent for the sport, particularly as a defenceman, and quickly rose through the local youth ranks.

    Harrington’s development took a significant step forward when he was selected by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2009 OHL draft. He made his OHL debut during the 2009–10 season, appearing in 55 games and recording one goal and 13 assists for 14 points. His strong rookie performance earned him a spot on the league’s 2010 First All-Rookie Team. The Knights qualified for the playoffs that year and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals before being eliminated by the Kitchener Rangers, with Harrington adding two assists in 12 postseason games.

    Path to Professional Hockey

    Harrington’s path to professional hockey continued to take shape during his time with the London Knights. In his second OHL season in 2010–11, he scored six goals and 22 points, although the Knights were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by eventual champion Owen Sound Attack. That January, he was among those selected to play in the CHL Top Prospects Game, signaling his growing reputation as a top NHL prospect. In the 2011–12 season, Harrington made 44 appearances, scoring three goals and 26 points, while helping the Knights win the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions.

    Following his success in junior hockey, Harrington was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2011 NHL entry draft, 54th overall. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on July 26, 2011, marking the beginning of his professional career. His transition to the NHL level was supported by his consistent development with the London Knights, where he was twice named an OHL First Team All-Star in 2011–12 and 2012–13.

    Scott Harrington Career

    Early Career (2013–2015)

    After the London Knights finished their 2012–13 season, Harrington joined Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, on an amateur tryout contract for their playoff run. He appeared in two playoff games, scoring one goal. He attended Pittsburgh’s training camp the following fall but was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to start the 2013–14 season. In 76 AHL appearances that year, he recorded five goals and 24 points, helping the team finish second in their division and reach the conference finals.

    Harrington made his NHL debut on December 18, 2014, in a 1–0 Pittsburgh overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche. He made ten appearances for Pittsburgh during the 2014–15 season, going scoreless, while adding two goals and 12 points in 48 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. On July 1, 2015, Harrington was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a multi-player blockbuster deal for winger Phil Kessel, beginning the next chapter of his professional career.

    Toronto Maple Leafs (2015–2016)

    Following the trade, Harrington impressed at the Maple Leafs’ training camp and made the NHL roster for the opening night of the 2015–16 season. He played alongside Jake Gardiner on the third pairing in a 3–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He recorded his first NHL point by assisting on Leo Komarov’s second-period goal in a 5–3 loss to the Canadiens on October 24. Harrington appeared in 15 games with the Maple Leafs, tallying one assist, before being assigned to Toronto’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, on November 28.

    He recorded one goal and three points in 17 games with the Marlies before his season was ended by an upper body injury on February 20, 2016. Despite the shortened year, his time with the organization gave him valuable NHL experience.

    Columbus Blue Jackets (2016–2022)

    On June 25, 2016, shortly after the conclusion of the 2016 NHL entry draft, Harrington was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside a conditional fifth-round draft pick in exchange for forward Kerby Rychel. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with Columbus in July. Harrington made his Columbus debut on November 15, 2016, and scored his first NHL goal on January 22, 2017, in a 7–6 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators. On March 21, 2017, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets.

    During the 2017–18 season, Harrington earned consistent playing time after Ryan Murray was injured, resulting in a streak of 24 consecutive games and new career highs of 32 games played, two goals, and five points. The following season, he set new career highs in assists and points with two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in a career-high 73 games. He also helped the Blue Jackets advance past the first round of the postseason for the first time in franchise history by recording four assists through ten playoff games. In July 2019, Harrington signed a three-year contract with Columbus worth $4.9 million, and spent six seasons within the Blue Jackets organization before leaving as a free agent.

    San Jose Sharks (2022–2023)

    On September 9, 2022, Harrington agreed to join the training camp of the San Jose Sharks on a professional tryout (PTO). During the pre-season, he successfully earned a one-year, two-way contract with the Sharks on September 30. He began the 2022–23 season with the Sharks, debuting in their season opener on October 7, 2022, a 4–1 loss to the Nashville Predators in the NHL Global Series in Prague, Czechia. After brief stints with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, Harrington recorded his first goal with San Jose on December 9 in a 6–1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. In 28 games with the Sharks, he had one goal and seven points.

    Anaheim Ducks (2023)

    On February 26, 2023, Harrington was traded to the New Jersey Devils in a multi-player trade centered around Timo Meier. However, he was waived by New Jersey one day later and subsequently claimed by the Anaheim Ducks on February 28. He made his Ducks debut on March 1 in a 3–2 loss to the Washington Capitals. Harrington tallied his first two goals with the Ducks on March 17, in a 7–4 win over his former team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. He finished the season playing 17 games with Anaheim, scoring three goals and four points.

    ZSC Lions (2023–2024)

    Remaining unsigned through the summer of 2023, Harrington signed a one-year contract abroad with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League on October 17, 2023. In his lone season with the Lions, he was limited by a lower-body injury to just 14 regular season games. He returned for the playoffs, helping the club claim the Swiss championship with two assists through six appearances.

    Springfield Thunderbirds (2024–2025)

    As a free agent, Harrington opted to return to North America and signed a one-year AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Blues’ primary AHL affiliate, on July 12, 2024. In 49 games with Springfield, he scored one goal and five points. The Thunderbirds qualified for the playoffs but were knocked out by the Providence Bruins in the first round.

    Belleville Senators (2025–Present)

    Once again a free agent, Harrington was invited to the Nashville Predators training camp on a PTO, but was released on September 26, 2025. On October 10, 2025, Harrington signed a two-year deal with the Belleville Senators of the AHL, joining the Ottawa Senators’ top affiliate.

    Driving Style and Strengths

    Scott Harrington is recognized for his steady, defense-first approach to the game. He excels at using his 6-foot-2 frame to win battles along the boards and clear the front of the net. Throughout his career, he has been valued as a reliable penalty killer and a smooth puck-mover from the back end, capable of logging key defensive minutes against top opposing lines.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Harrington’s most notable moments include his NHL debut on December 18, 2014, his first NHL goal on January 22, 2017, and his role in helping the Columbus Blue Jackets advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 2019. Internationally, he won gold with Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and earned silver at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

    Scott Harrington Career Wins

    Scott Harrington’s career includes notable team successes at both the junior and professional levels. He won two J. Ross Robertson Cups with the London Knights in 2012 and 2013, and a Swiss National League championship with the ZSC Lions in 2024.

    Ontario Hockey League Highlights

    During his time with the London Knights, Harrington was part of back-to-back OHL championship teams, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2012 and 2013. He was twice named an OHL First Team All-Star in 2011–12 and 2012–13, and was named to the 2010 First All-Rookie Team. The Knights also reached the 2012 Memorial Cup final, finishing as runners-up to the Shawinigan Cataractes.

    Other Wins and Performances

    At the international level, Harrington won gold with Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and earned silver at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He also won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championships.

    Scott Harrington Family

    Family Background and Hockey Lineage

    Scott Harrington was born to his parents Pat and Cindy in Kingston, Ontario. His younger sister, Holly, also played ice hockey growing up, contributing to a family environment deeply connected to the sport.

    Personal Life

    Harrington comes from a close-knit family that supported his hockey journey from his early years in Kingston through his professional career across North America and Europe.

    2025 Season Performance

    Scott Harrington’s 2025 season began with an invitation to the Nashville Predators training camp on a professional tryout. He was released from his PTO on September 26, 2025, before signing a two-year deal with the Belleville Senators of the AHL on October 10, 2025. The move brought him back into the Ottawa Senators organization, where he is expected to provide veteran defensive depth and leadership on the blue line.

    As a two-time OHL champion and a player with extensive NHL and AHL experience, Harrington is positioned to play a key role with the Belleville Senators during the 2025–26 campaign. His history of steady, defense-first play should help stabilize the team’s back end while also mentoring younger defencemen within the organization.