The Blackhawks announced they’ve agreed to terms with defenseman Taige Harding on a two-year entry-level contract for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. His contract carries a cap hit of $880K and breaks down as follows, per PuckPedia:
2025-26: $775K NHL salary, $92.5K signing bonus, $57.5K games played bonus, $80K minors salary
2026-27: $800K NHL salary, $92.5K signing bonus, $32.5K games played bonus, $80K minors salary
While Harding won’t be eligible to make his NHL debut until the fall, he’ll get his first taste of professional hockey down the stretch on a tryout with AHL Rockford, the team confirmed. The Scotland native and Canadian national lands a deal after four seasons with Providence College, which also saw 2024 first-round pick Trevor Connelly sign his entry-level contract with the Golden Knights today.
Harding was a third-round pick by Chicago in 2021 from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The monster 6’6″, 235-lb lefty jumped to the Friars midway through the following season. While his ability to box out opponents, given his size, is the foremost aspect of his upside, he’s a good outlet passer and has had his point totals reflect that in college. He totaled a respectable 8-32–40 scoring line through 123 games at Providence, boasting a +20 rating. This year, Harding recorded a career-high 46 PIMs and posted 2-12–14 in 37 games with a plus-nine mark.
The 23-year-old isn’t among the top 15 prospects in an exceedingly deep Blackhawks prospect pool, and Scott Wheeler of The Athletic wrote in February that he most likely tops out as AHL depth. Nonetheless, he’s got the tools to peak as a bottom-pairing presence for Chicago someday after a quietly stable run of play in college. He’ll be an RFA in 2027; he also becomes the 31st player under contract for the Hawks next year.
31 players? That’s peanuts. Aren’t you allowed 50? I might be wrong about that one. I don’t think that’s really an issue for the Hawks.
You are correct. They have 44 at present, so 13 pending free agents throughout the organization. Only the Jets and Kraken (43) have fewer deals on the books right now.
Thanks Josh! Yeah Maroon is retiring, Anathesiou, Martinez are likely gone also so that’s 3 more spots off the top of my head.
I think with Harding signing the only guys left to sign are Greene and Thompson if I’m not mistaken. And I’m not sure they would be able to play until next year anyway.
did they ever sign that tall goalie at St. Cloud ,Basse?
No I don’t think he’s in the big picture anymore. He transferred anyway and I don’t even know where he is anymore.
@Unclemike — correct, his rights lapsed last August. Transferred to St. Lawrence for 2024-25 and then just recently signed a deal with ECHL Idaho
Thanks again!
Love the blueprint Davidson is creating.
Dubas keeps talking about following quick retool templates like the Kings and Caps, but long term the Hawks have the best strategy.
I maintain he should do both…do a retool (WITHOUT spending real assets) to give Sid a deserving chance BUT…when guys like Pickering, McGroarty, Koivunen, etc. are in their primes post Sid, sell them all at peak value and do a full TNT implosion to then implement the Davidson model flush with picks.
6’6″, 235-lb !!
Yet another giant for the blue line
Big Rig 2.0!
Son of Tonya Harding
What happen to Dominic James?