Ben Harpur’s NHL comeback attempt is over, for now. The Panthers announced today that they released the veteran defenseman from his professional tryout. He was not assigned to AHL Charlotte’s camp, so it’s a clean cut that results in him still searching for a home for 2025-26.
Harpur, 30, last appeared in the NHL with the Rangers in the 2022-23 campaign. He played 42 games that year, spending most of the season as the Blueshirts’ No. 7. He’d remained in the New York organization since on a two-way deal but played exclusively with AHL Hartford, where injuries have limited him to 36 appearances over the last two years combined.
The 6’6″, 231-lb lefty has never been an offensive threat at any level in his pro career, but was once an intriguing shutdown option with the Senators in his younger years. He quickly settled in as a fringe NHLer through most of his prime, sitting anywhere between No. 6 and No. 10 on his club’s depth chart in any given season.
He could have been an appealing veteran recall option for the Cats this year, even if he wasn’t in legitimate competition for an NHL job. Nonetheless, it appears they’re comfortable with Tobias Björnfot and Michael Benning as their top recall options from Charlotte on the blue line this year, assuming the former clears waivers in the coming days.