What a year it was for Ben Harpur.
Senators management made it public in the 2015-16 season and during training camp in late September that they wanted more from Harpur, whose development had been lacking convincing steps in the right direction.
Midway through the 2016-17 campaign they thought they had gotten through to Harpur, and the youngster was making giant strides forward. In April, they knew for sure.
Harpur is the first player on our Top 25 Under 25 to have played in the NHL’s 2017 postseason, recording nine games and an additional two assists. And though the second round series against the New York Rangers proved to be too much for the 22-year-old to handle, he was one of the team’s better players in the first round versus the Boston Bruins.