Trevor Shackles: It Makes a Ton of Sense to Trade Ben Harpur Why Ben Harpur should be moved

Ben Harpur trade value

I remember a Jacques Martin quote from years ago. Before training camp opened, he was asked, "who would make" a very young but talented Sens team.

Martin merely said "the players will figure it out." He went on to explain that right from the very first scrimmage the players will know who will make the final cut and who is on the bubble. Chris Neal, for example, was a player's pick.

On a very young team, I think Harpur adds a better physical edge that nobody else offers. I like Harpur, if it comes down to a choice between Borowiecki or Harpur. I don't think the Sens should keep both.

He's Gryba 2.0

At least Carkner added some additional elements to his "big man" game.

Harpur barely hits, barely does anything offensively and without a solid defense coach on the roster (again, Luke Richardson) his angles are wrong to overcome his shortcomings.

Ben Harpur trade value


- jimbro83

Do you really think we could get that much for him?

Do you really think we could get that much for him?
- sensarmy_11

nice

I remember a Jacques Martin quote from years ago. Before training camp opened, he was asked, "who would make" a very young but talented Sens team.

Martin merely said "the players will figure it out." He went on to explain that right from the very first scrimmage the players will know who will make the final cut and who is on the bubble. Chris Neal, for example, was a player's pick.

On a very young team, I think Harpur adds a better physical edge that nobody else offers. I like Harpur, if it comes down to a choice between Borowiecki or Harpur. I don't think the Sens should keep both.
- spatso

he absolutely does not offer a physical edge. you think he does because he's big. the guy had 89 hits this year, which puts him 7th on the team, and 5th among dmen. the guy adds nothing to this team from a physical standpoint....he might be the softest big man in the league. he doesn't hit much, doesn't effectively clear the front of the net, and plays with about the same intimidation factor that Stefan DaCosta did.

someone said Gryba 2.0.....I'd say that's pretty accurate. Gryba was definitely more of a physical player, but both guys are about as expendable as they come.

if you want a big body to play on the bottom pair, I would MUCH MUCH rather have Englund up than boro or harpur

Seems rather accurate comparison.

Honestly, I think a mid round pick is a reach for him. Late round pick at most, more likely a similar player, which is just swapping a roster spot that could be filled by a young player for another.

Unless they're an AHLer.

Seems rather accurate comparison.

Honestly, I think a mid round pick is a reach for him. Late round pick at most, more likely a similar player, which is just swapping a roster spot that could be filled by a young player for another.

Unless they're an AHLer.
- david22

agreed, I think Harpur gets you a 6th or 7th rd pick, or AHL player.

the advantage of moving him is getting rid of his one-way contract...not the return they would get

Sort of a weird article. I doubt Harpur is in the long-term plans for this team. Rebuilding teams always have cheap players acting as a roster spot place holder. I think there was some reasonable expectations when he first cracked the NHL, but that is squashed now.

Doubt any team will look to give up an asset for a guy who can’t crack the worst defence core in the NHL…

Just send him down to the AHL. If he gets claimed, great, if not, also great. He can just playout his contract down there.

While I think Chabot and Branstrom are great pieces to have on the backend, I am not as confident that the position looks promising as some argue. The right side is insanely weak and there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of defenders that play well in the defensive end. Still a massive work in progress in my opinion. It’s naïve to think a random prospect or two will come out of the woodwork and become top 4 options.

I have always felt that Harpur has the skating/passing skills to be a 4/5 guy and his size/reach could be useful from a defending standpoint. Unfortunately his inability to generate clean zone exits shows that he is lacking in one or more of hockey sense, vision, confidence, ability to make good decisions under pressure/when tired.

I am fine with moving Harpur as he is a 6/7 defenceman and certainly not a core asset to carry forward in the rebuild.

Sort of a weird article. I doubt Harpur is in the long-term plans for this team. Rebuilding teams always have cheap players acting as a roster spot place holder. I think there was some reasonable expectations when he first cracked the NHL, but that is squashed now.

Doubt any team will look to give up an asset for a guy who can’t crack the worst defence core in the NHL…

Just send him down to the AHL. If he gets claimed, great, if not, also great. He can just playout his contract down there.

While I think Chabot and Branstrom are great pieces to have on the backend, I am not as confident that the position looks promising as some argue. The right side is insanely weak and there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of defenders that play well in the defensive end. Still a massive work in progress in my opinion. It’s naïve to think a random prospect or two will come out of the woodwork and become top 4 options.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Too negative. Chabot, Jaros, Demelo and Wolanin will find their games and be okay.

Would like to see them add a physical defensive player who could match up with Chabot. I worry that Chabot needs more of a veteran presence to help shape his defensive game playing against top lines every night.

Too negative. Chabot, Jaros, Demelo and Wolanin will find their games and be okay.

Would like to see them add a physical defensive player who could match up with Chabot. I worry that Chabot needs more of a veteran presence to help shape his defensive game playing against top lines every night.
- spatso

....a Methot type for instance.

Too negative. Chabot, Jaros, Demelo and Wolanin will find their games and be okay.

Would like to see them add a physical defensive player who could match up with Chabot. I worry that Chabot needs more of a veteran presence to help shape his defensive game playing against top lines every night.
- spatso

It’s not negative, it’s just where the team is at. Chabot and Branstrom – Great pieces to work with. The rest, up for debate.

Wolanin – Maybe redundant is Branstrom becomes a legitimate top 4 tool. But could be useful on a 3rd pairing.

Demelo – Nothing special. Not sure he is a top 4 solution long term. He’s not going to get any better. He’s a top 4 option now because the defence is brutal.

Jaros – I kind of like him, but not sure he will be a legitimate NHL calibre d-man.

The rest of the prospects in the system are toss ups that most likely won’t pan out. Still work to be done to add to the cupboard.

Keep in mind, Chabot is not going to be what Karlsson was. Nor Branstrom. Having good depth on D will be important.

The whole article was talking about Harpur should be traded. Harpur wouldn’t even be in the NHL on 30 other NHL teams. There’s a ways to go to fix the blue line.

Sort of a weird article. I doubt Harpur is in the long-term plans for this team. Rebuilding teams always have cheap players acting as a roster spot place holder. I think there was some reasonable expectations when he first cracked the NHL, but that is squashed now.

Doubt any team will look to give up an asset for a guy who can’t crack the worst defence core in the NHL…

Just send him down to the AHL. If he gets claimed, great, if not, also great. He can just playout his contract down there.

While I think Chabot and Branstrom are great pieces to have on the backend, I am not as confident that the position looks promising as some argue. The right side is insanely weak and there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of defenders that play well in the defensive end. Still a massive work in progress in my opinion. It’s naïve to think a random prospect or two will come out of the woodwork and become top 4 options.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

He was given a one-way contract for two seasons last year without much NHL experience, so they’ve been pretty high on him. I wouldn’t just say they have absolutely no plans for him because he’d be off the team by now if that were true. Hence the need for the article.

It’s not negative, it’s just where the team is at. Chabot and Branstrom – Great pieces to work with. The rest, up for debate.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Agreed... I'm still baffled as to why there aren't more alarm bells for people regarding the blueline. The LHD side looks good in terms of scoring potential with Chabot, Brannstrom, Wolanin, Lajoie, and Tychonick looking like quite a deep puck-moving group. But the RHD is more than thin, and will need to complement the more one-dimensional nature of the LHD group. Bernard-Docker has solid potential, and Jaros may be useful on the 3rd pairing... but that's literally it.

For my money, they should be drafting RHD early and often with all of these picks they acquired. If they don't pick at least one in the 1st-3rd rounds of this year's draft, I'm going to be severely disappointed.

Agreed... I'm still baffled as to why there aren't more alarm bells for people regarding the blueline. The LHD side looks good in terms of scoring potential with Chabot, Brannstrom, Wolanin, Lajoie, and Tychonick looking like quite a deep puck-moving group. But the RHD is more than thin, and will need to complement the more one-dimensional nature of the LHD group. Bernard-Docker has solid potential, and Jaros may be useful on the 3rd pairing... but that's literally it.

For my money, they should be drafting RHD early and often with all of these picks they acquired. If they don't pick at least one in the 1st-3rd rounds of this year's draft, I'm going to be severely disappointed.
- khawk

that's why I'm seriously hoping with one of our, hopefully, multiple 1sts next year, we somehow manage to get Justin Barron out of Halifax. Kid is a stud dman in the making....gonna be so good

He was given a one-way contract for two seasons last year without much NHL experience, so they’ve been pretty high on him. I wouldn’t just say they have absolutely no plans for him because he’d be off the team by now if that were true. Hence the need for the article.
- Trevor Shackles

I said in my post there was some reasonable expectations for him but that’s what a year will do though. Things change. Need to revaluate. Highly doubt the team looks at Harpur the same way now as they did when the contract was signed. Which was probably premature – but there are worse contracts. Only reason he is here is because of how terrible the defence on this team is. Harpur in any other organization is not even sniffing at NHL time. There is time to get him out of the lineup. Space holder as I said. He’s in there because the lineup is brutal.

Gotta start looking at the blueline more objectively to realize it’s still very much a work in progress in both NHL ready players and prospects.

Removing guys like Harpur and Ceci and replacing them with “younger” alternatives like Jaros for example is not going to do much to improve. This team isn’t secretly hiding future Brent Burns’s in the system. The organization has to draft, develop, and acquire some more talent for the back end. Chabot and Branstrom are great offensive pieces to start. The rest of the existing group, it very, very up in the air.

Agreed... I'm still baffled as to why there aren't more alarm bells for people regarding the blueline. The LHD side looks good in terms of scoring potential with Chabot, Brannstrom, Wolanin, Lajoie, and Tychonick looking like quite a deep puck-moving group. But the RHD is more than thin, and will need to complement the more one-dimensional nature of the LHD group. Bernard-Docker has solid potential, and Jaros may be useful on the 3rd pairing... but that's literally it.

For my money, they should be drafting RHD early and often with all of these picks they acquired. If they don't pick at least one in the 1st-3rd rounds of this year's draft, I'm going to be severely disappointed.
- khawk

Too many people look at Chabot and Branstrom and think we have like two Erik Karlsson’s in his prime in the making. They won’t be. Puck moving d-men are great, but you need guys who can play defence as well to win. The Hurricanes are a great model to try and emulate. They have a great d-core that can move the puck and have strong defensive IQ.

I said in my post there was some reasonable expectations for him but that’s what a year will do though. Things change. Need to revaluate. Highly doubt the team looks at Harpur the same way now as they did when the contract was signed. Which was probably premature – but there are worse contracts. Only reason he is here is because of how terrible the defence on this team is. Harpur in any other organization is not even sniffing at NHL time. There is time to get him out of the lineup. Space holder as I said. He’s in there because the lineup is brutal.

Gotta start looking at the blueline more objectively to realize it’s still very much a work in progress in both NHL ready players and prospects.

Removing guys like Harpur and Ceci and replacing them with “younger” alternatives like Jaros for example is not going to do much to improve. This team isn’t secretly hiding future Brent Burns’s in the system. The organization has to draft, develop, and acquire some more talent for the back end. Chabot and Branstrom are great offensive pieces to start. The rest of the existing group, it very, very up in the air.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I mean, I’m not trying to frame this as Harpur needs to be moved or else Ottawa can’t possibly be good. It was just a thought I had that it would be very advantageous to move him.

I mean, I’m not trying to frame this as Harpur needs to be moved or else Ottawa can’t possibly be good. It was just a thought I had that it would be very advantageous to move him.
- Trevor Shackles

I would extend this thought beyond Harpur, and include any roster player that's functionally interfering with the creation of potentially valuable development opportunities. If they want to feed guys like Ceci and Harpur to the wolves in terms of playing hard ES minutes and PK in order to shelter younger players like Brannstrom early on, then I'm fine with that. But if they're literally just preventing players like Wolanin, Lajoie, and Jaros from getting what they believe would be beneficial NHL-level ice time, then these players need to be removed from the equation.

Honestly, the expectations for this team are literally sub-zero, and anyone drafted prior to 2015 should expect to be traded as soon as it's advantageous for the team to do so. All that matters at this point is that they don't f-up the development of their top young players.

I would extend this thought beyond Harpur, and include any roster player that's functionally interfering with the creation of potentially valuable development opportunities. If they want to feed guys like Ceci and Harpur to the wolves in terms of playing hard ES minutes and PK in order to shelter younger players like Brannstrom early on, then I'm fine with that. But if they're literally just preventing players like Wolanin, Lajoie, and Jaros from getting what they believe would be beneficial NHL-level ice time, then these players need to be removed from the equation.

Honestly, the expectations for this team are literally sub-zero, and anyone drafted prior to 2015 should expect to be traded as soon as it's advantageous for the team to do so. All that matters at this point is that they don't f-up the development of their top young players.
- khawk

Basically this. It’s always funny when I see teams go into rebuilds and try to prop prospects that were brought up in the non-rebuild era but try to say they are future building blocks now. In 2-3 years, the roster and prospect make up is going to be completely different.

[quote=Trevor Shackles]I mean, I’m not trying to frame this as Harpur needs to be moved or else Ottawa can’t possibly be good. It was just a thought I had that it would be very advantageous to move him

moving Harper makes no sense....you can’t only have small offensive defencemen....need a mix....Boston is the best example

[quote=Trevor Shackles]I mean, I’m not trying to frame this as Harpur needs to be moved or else Ottawa can’t possibly be good. It was just a thought I had that it would be very advantageous to move him

moving Harper makes no sense....you can’t only have small offensive defencemen....need a mix....Boston is the best example
- sensfanatic

Borowiecki and Jaros exist