The Minnesota Wild has re-signed goalie Josh Harding to a three-year contract, the club announced today.
“I love being here, I love the city, I love the fans,” Harding said. “It was really important for me to stay here and work towards my goal (of being a starting goaltender in the NHL).”
Harding was a pending unrestricted free agent, and many believed he would be targeted by the likes of Toronto and Columbus on July 1.
The 28-year-old went 13-12-4 in 2011-12 with a .917 save percentage.
The deal leaves the Wild with two NHL-caliber goalies, Harding and 34-year-old Niklas Backstrom. The latter has one year remaining on his contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent, and you have to wonder what he thinks about all this.
Harding’s cap hit is reportedly $1.9 million.
In a related story, Roberto Luongo still hasn’t been traded.