New York Rangers sign Ben Harpur to two-year contract extension

The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Ben Harpur to a two-year contract extension, the club announced Thursday afternoon. According to hockey insider Chris Johnston, his new contract carries a $775,000 NHL cap hit for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons.

Harpur, 28, has appeared in 18 games with the Rangers this year, recording one goal and three points while averaging 13:23 per night. His current deal with the Rangers for the 2022–23 season is worth $750,000.

The Ottawa Senators originally selected Harpur in the fourth round (No. 108 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. The 6’6″, 231-pound left-handed defender made his NHL debut with the Senators in the 2015–16 season and emerged as a regular with the club two years later.

After splitting 2019–20 between the AHL affiliates of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Nashville Predators, Harpur appeared in 53 NHL games with the Predators over the next two seasons. He subsequently signed a one-year deal with the Rangers on Oct. 27, 2022.

Through 174 career games with the Senators, Predators, and Rangers, Harpur has amassed two goals and 18 points while logging an average of 15:46 per night. He’s also skated in 14 playoff contests with the Senators and Rangers, notching three assists.

The Rangers now have five defensemen on their NHL roster signed beyond this season: Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, Braden Schneider, and Harpur. K’Andre Miller, Libor Hajek, and top prospect Zac Jones are all set to become restricted free agents this summer.