Harvey-Pinard: 'I'm extremely proud'

MONTREAL - Prospect Rafaël Harvey-Pinard spoke with reporters via Zoom on Thursday morning to talk about his new contract with the Canadiens.

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Harvey-Pinard, who was selected in the seventh round, 201st overall by Montreal in 2019, agreed to terms on a two-year, entry-level deal on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old forward has amassed 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 33 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket this season.
Here are a few highlights from his chat:
Harvey-Pinard on signing with the Canadiens:
It means a lot to me. I've been following the team since I was a kid. I had a contract with the Rocket, which is a part of the Canadiens organization, but the fact that I've signed an entry-level contract with the Canadiens and I can be recalled, it's huge. I'm extremely proud to be able to spend two more years in the Canadiens organization.

Harvey-Pinard on being compared to Brendan Gallagher:
It's very flattering. Every time I play, I try to channel his style. I think he's a good example for me and for hockey players in general. He gives everything he has every night. He's an inspiration for me. It's definitely flattering being compared to him.

Harvey-Pinard on being in a position to be recalled by the Habs:
It's another step in the right direction. I've made another step forward. It will be up to me to work even harder to earn my spot and play in the NHL.
Harvey-Pinard on his success in his first season with the Rocket:
There are different factors. Having a really long break before the season started really helped me. Instead of having three months off, I had 10 months to get prepared. That allowed me to work on a lot of aspects of my game, including my skating. I also worked on getting stronger and I was able to heal up from some injuries. Joël Bouchard helped me a lot. He pushed me every day. He used me in every situation, which was good for me. It was a very good year experience-wise. I also played with a lot of veterans, including Jordan Weal and Yannick Veilleux. They're experiened players and they taught me a lot. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to play with them.

Harvey-Pinard on playing for winning teams:
When you play on a winning team, everyone is positive and there's a good atmosophere in the room. Playing on winning teams was definitely good for my development. There's always good communication between the players, which helps players develop as well. I've been very lucky to be a part of these organizations. It was very beneficial. I had the chance to play for incredible organizations that allowed me to develop the right way.