Levi Harper
#4 -Saginaw Spirit (OHL) – American – RD – 5’11 174lbs
Many 2027 Draft-eligible players have had slower starts to this season. This could not be further from the case for the Saginaw Spirit Defenseman Levi Harper. He is currently on pace for two points per game, which, over Harper’s projected 62-game season, would equal a staggering 124 points. Even after only having played 5 games, that is wildly impressive. What has worked for Harper so far? He is very dynamic in the offensive zone, making sharp, on-the-dot passes. He is a swift straight-line skater, having the ability to roam the blueline with that speed. Yet, another one of his skills is his proficiency in moving the puck once facing opponents’ pressure. Conversely, this leads right into his biggest weakness. Harper’s below-average stature leaves him very vulnerable to any physical contact. He gets knocked over frequently, losing too many
board battles. His reach also limits him from having a productive stick in his own end.
As a prospect, his next season will be much more telling. He will be joining the current favourites to win this year’s National Championship, the Michigan Wolverines. The OHL is a skill-filled league; Harper’s play and progression in an older, physically mature league like the NCAA is much more essential. How effectively his offensive skills translate, but more importantly, how much he is able to adapt to a more similar NHL-style game at the college level.
His draft stock is all over the place, ranging from a mid-second-round pick to a lottery pick. He’s leaning towards the lottery side of that argument.