Player evaluation: Harrold

PETER HARROLD
This season: 39 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 8 penalty minutes, 9:15 average ice time.
The good: Harrold’s biggest strengths are his versatility and his attitude. Several times in the past two seasons, he has transitioned from defense (his natural position) to wing, and back, and also sat for long stretches as a healthy scratch without complaining or being a locker-room distraction. Harrold does a credible job in any role in which he is put, and his game doesn’t seem to suffer when he goes back and forth between positions.
The bad: The issue with Harrold is that he’s not bad as a defenseman and he’s not bad as a forward, but he’s not particularly outstanding at either. Up front, it’s unlikely that he would ever develop into a dynamic scorer, and on the back end, he’s not big and physical enough to make a dramatic impact on the game.
Going forward: Harrold is under contract for one more season, and he’s certainly worth keeping around for at least that long. There’s definite value in having versatility, even if it’s from the 23rd player on the roster, and Harrold’s good, low-key nature means he can be scratched for lengthy periods without complaining, and he will do at least a decent job when returned to the lineup.