NY Rangers return Ben Harpur to Hartford

The Rangers returned defenseman Ben Harpur to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL last night.

The move leaves the Rangers with 21 skaters, and no spare defensemen. This is most likely a paper transaction to bank some extra cap space. Yesterday, before the Rangers returned Harpur, they had $7.1 million in deadline cap space if they remained at 22 skaters for the rest of the winter. Now it’s at $9.3 million by shedding Harpur’s $750k, but that’s only if they remain at 21 skaters.

It’s assumed Harpur will be recalled at some point before tomorrow’s game against the Devils. This is no issue for Harpur either, who is on a one-way contract. He earns his $750,000 no matter which league he’s in. I’d expect him to be involved in a few paper transactions while the Rangers bank cap space.