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 14th, 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 24th, 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 19th, 2012, Harding re-signed with the Minnesota Wild with a three-year, $5.7 million dollar contract extension.
On November 28, 2012, it was reported that Harding has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
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