Rangers Report Cards: Grading the Left Defenseman

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 05: Pat Maroon #14 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ben Harpur #5 of the New York Rangers fight during the first period at Madison Square Garden on April 05, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Rangers Report Cards: Ben Harpur: B (A-)

On October 13, 2022, Ben Harpur signed a professional tryout contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL. Fast forward through four games with the Wolf Pack, and guess what? Harpur’s phone buzzes with an invite to Broadway as he seals the deal on a one-year, two-way contract on October 27.

Harpur didn’t just fill a spot on the roster; he brought depth to the blue line and dropped in four points over 17 games. Then, on January 26, 2023, the Rangers rewarded his hustle and knack for grinding it out in the trenches that they reward him with a sweet two-year, $1.575 million contract extension. Not too shabby, right?

Why the extension, you ask? Harpur isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and duke it out in those tough spots. He’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to winning those board battles on the defensive end of the ice.

The 28-year-old finished the season with a goal, five assists, and a solid 1.3 defensive points share across 42 games. And even though he sat out as a healthy scratch during the playoffs, the future still looks bright.

In the upcoming season, watch for Harpur as he gears up to battle it out with Zac Jones and Gustafsson for that coveted final spot on New York’s blue line.

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