Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Released From PTO With Florida Panthers
Photo credit: ESPN
A former Toronto Maple Leaf has been released or his tryout deal with the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers have released defenseman Ben Harpur from his professional tryout deal (PTO).
Harpur, 30, has been released from his tryout contract by Florida, according to Pro Hockey Rumors.
Harpur spent last season in the American Hockey League with the New York Rangers AHL affiliate in Hartford, where he had five points in 24 games with the team.
The 30-year-old was in the Leafs organization in 2019 in the deal that sent Nikita Zaitsev to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Cody Ceci.
Harpur did not play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, being placed on waivers and having spent the season with the Toronto Marlies, having 11 points in 34 games.
Why This PTO Release Still Resonates in Toronto
Ben Harpur was one player is someone who has played three seasons in the NHL after Toronto with two different teams, and was someone who has still gotten opportunities.
Harpur has played in 198 games played in the NHL with three teams with Ottawa, Nashville, & the New York Rangers. Harpur has over a decade of pro experience, mostly in the AHL.
Today, Harpur may be someone that Brad Treliving would like a lot more than when he was in the system led by Kyle Dubas.
Harpur is someone who has NHL size being 6'6 and 230lbs, something that Treliving is one GM who would be excited by that prospect, but it seems his NHL career may be at it's end.
Could This Be the End of His NHL Journey
Harpur being cut could spell the end of his time in the NHL, and could set him up to make the move overseas.
Numerous teams in Europe would have interest in a former NHLer with experience who still has some years left of pro hockey able to give.
It's possible that another team gives him a chance, but more likely is the possibility that the deal is a two-way contract, and more likely than that an NHL deal instead.
The journey of Ben Harpur may have reached a difficult point, but he's still someone who has the potential to continue into pro hockey full-time in a capacity.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 2 | 1169 ANSWERS Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Released From PTO With Florida Panthers Should Toronto give Ben Harpur an AHL deal? | ||
| Yes | 619 | 53 % |
| No | 550 | 47 % |
| List of polls | ||
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