Nov 25: Harper has cleared waivers according to Friedman, meaning a contract termination could soon follow.
Nov 24: In addition to Nathan Bastian, who was placed on regular waivers today, Nashville Predators minor league forward Patrick Harper is on unconditional waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Harper’s contract will likely be terminated, should he clear waivers.
The 23-year-old forward has played in nine games with the Milwaukee Admirals this season, failing to score a single point. A fifth-round draft pick in 2016, he is in the final season of a two-year, entry-level contract signed in 2020 after his college career came to an end. During that contract, he’s played just 24 games at the AHL level, with just two points (and no goals) to show for it.
A two-time member of the U.S. World Junior team, Harper’s size is his limiting factor at the professional level. The 5’7″ forward was a dynamic offensive player at Boston University, but that production hasn’t carried over to the AHL.
If he does see his contract terminated, Harper would become an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any NHL team, though usually in these cases a contract has already been worked out overseas.