Josh Harding

Playing career

Harding played three seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Regina Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings. He won the Del Wilson and Four Broncos Memorial Trophies in 2003 as the WHL's top goaltender and most outstanding player respectively. He represented Canada at the 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning a silver medal. He was selected in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (38th overall) by the Wild. He began his professional career with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, the Wild's development team. In the 2004–2005 season, his rookie season with the Aeros, he posted a 21–16–3 record with a 2.01 goals against average.

Harding was called up to the Wild on March 8, 2006, after goalie Dwayne Roloson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. Before being called up, he had a 27–8–0 record with a .923% save percentage (second best in the AHL) in the Aeros' 2005–2006 season. He finished the season with a 29–8–0 record for the Aeros. He appeared in three games with the Wild in 2005–06, going 2–1–0 with a 2.59 goals against average.

Harding began the 2006–07 season with the Aeros as well, compiling a 17–15–4 record before being recalled by the Wild on January 24, 2007. Harding recorded a 30-save, 5–0 shutout against the Oilers on March 1, 2007; the third shutout of his career.

On October 14, 2007, Harding stopped 37 shots in his first game of the season shutting out the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 2–0. He compiled a record of 11-15 in the 2007-08 NHL Season, with a goals against average of 2.94. He played less during the 2008-09 NHL Season, recording only 3 wins to go with 11 losses, but with a better 2.21 goals against average.

On September 24, 2010, Harding tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in a preseason game in St. Louis, and missed the entire 2010–11 NHL season. Despite this, Harding was once again re-signed by the Wild on July 1, 2011.

On June 19, 2012, Harding re-signed with the Minnesota Wild to a three-year, $5.7 million contract. In the following 2012–13 season, on November 28, 2012, it was reported that Harding had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He kept the ailment, which can cause blurred vision and affect balance and co-ordination, a secret for over a month after doctors discovered the disease in late September 2012. In his first game back post-diagnosis, Harding stopped all 24 shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout win over the Dallas Stars on January 20, 2013.

During the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs against the President's Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks as the 8th seed, Niklas Bäckström injured himself during warm ups before Game 1. Harding would replace him in a 2-1 overtime loss, stopping 35 shots. This brought praise from his teammates as well as opponents for his incredible play despite being affected by multiple sclerosis. The Wild however would lose the series 4-1, but Harding would win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in recognition of his efforts.

Harding was expected to compete for the starting goaltending position for the Wild in the 2014–15 season, but a broken foot suffered in the offseason derailed those plans. Months later, upon being activated from injured reserve, the Wild placed Harding on waivers and assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. In his second game of the season playing for Iowa, Harding suffered from dehydration, which was related to his multiple sclerosis, and had to be hospitalized.

International play

Harding made his international debut at the junior level for Canada in the 2004 World Juniors, helping claim a Championship silver medal. At the completion of the 2008-09 season, Harding was selected to make his full senior debut with Canada at the 2009 World Championships. He helped guide the Canadians to capture a silver medal.

Records