The Preds selected the now-22-year-old Harper back in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, and the skilled winger is looking to impress as he begins his professional career. Harper signed his entry-level deal with Nashville following a four-year career at Boston University last spring, and what he might lack in size - he stands just 5-foot-7 - he more than makes up for with speed and skill.
"For the last little bit here during my college career I studied a lot of the smaller players in the National Hockey League, and I tried to pick up on little things that they do that makes them successful," Harper said back in March. "The way that the NHL is trending there's definitely a lot of room for smaller guys who play with a head on their shoulders and use their IQ to their advantage. That's something that I pride myself on, and I try to stay a couple steps ahead of the rest of the players. That's always been my mindset, and with the way the League's trending, I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot."
Harper's pro career couldn't have started much better with the Everblades, and now he'll be looking to show what he can do against some of his NHL-ready teammates in Nashville.
By the Numbers:
- Harper finished out his four-year career at Boston University with a 14-goal, 37-point season in 2019-20, while earning Hockey East Third Team All-Star honors.
- He earned bronze with the U.S. at the 2018 World Junior Championship, where he tallied four points (2g-2a) in seven games.
- Harper co-captained Avon Old Farms School in 2015-16, leading the team in scoring with 59 points (20g-39a) in just 27 games.
Fun Fact:
- Harper was a communications major at Boston University.
