Blackhawks sign Taige Harding to entry-level contract

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Tuesday that the club has signed defenseman Taige Harding to a two-year, entry-level contract set to begin in 2025-26. As part of the agreement, Harding will join the AHL affiliated Rockford IceHogs on an amateur tryout for the balance of the current campaign.

Harding was originally chosen by the Blackhawks in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Through 37 appearances this season with the NCAA’s Providence Friars, the 23-year-old collected two goals and 12 assists for 14 points coupled with a plus-nine rating and a team-leading 46 penalty minutes. In all, through four seasons with the Friars, Harding totaled eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points through 123 career contests.

Prior to beginning his college career, the 6-foot-7 rearguard spent three seasons with the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons highlighted by the 2021-22 campaign where through 37 games he reached point-per-game production counting 14 goals and 23 assists to rank third in team scoring with 37 points.

In all, Harding is the third player to sign an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks in recent days. On Saturday, the Blackhawks announced that the club had signed both defenseman Sam Rinzel as well as forward Oliver Moore, both of the NCAA’s Minnesota Golden Gophers, to three-year, entry-level deals.

The 25th overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft, Rinzel notched 32 points counting 10 goals and 22 assists through 40 appearances with the Golden Gophers this season, while Moore, chosen 19th overall by the Blackhawks in 2023, tallied 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points through 38 games with Minnesota. Both players then made their NHL debut Sunday versus the Utah Hockey Club.

For the Blackhawks, on the season the club sits second-to-last in the NHL standings with 51 points and is poised for another early selection in the upcoming NHL Draft.