Wild coach Mike Yeo said that he wants backup goaltender Josh Harding to play in a game soon, but it's not clear when that will be. It's entirely possible that Harding will play on Thursday, but nothing has been announced. Harding missed the entire 2010-11 season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the 2010 preseason. Stay tuned.

Josh Harding (ankle) is expected to serve as the Wild's backup goaltender in their season opener. There was some concern that he wouldn't be healthy enough to play, but fortunately his injury wasn't nearly as severe as the ACL and MCL tears that kept him out of the 2010-11 season. The Wild have already taken the step of returning third-string netminder Matt Hackett to the minors.

Josh Harding suffered an ankle injury on Sunday. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but Harding didn't participate in Monday's practice. Harding didn't play in 2010-11 after tearing his ACL and MCL during the 2010 preseason. We'll keep you posted.

Josh Harding impressed the Minnesota Wild coaching staff in a scoreless scrimmage yesterday. Harding tore his ACL and MCL in a preseason game against the Blues on September 24th last year and was lost for the season."Just to be back competing with the boys, it's been a long time since I've done that," Harding said. "Still working out some kinks, but ... it's holding strong." The 2003 WHL Goaltender of the Year has been talked about for years, and if finally healthy, will be ready to take on a bigger role should Backstrom falter. Look for Harding to get into 20-25 games if healthy, and more if Backstrom gets inured. Harding is nothing more than a handcuff for Backstrom owners.

The Minnesota Wild have re-signed Josh Harding to a one-year/$750,000 contract. Harding missed all of last season after surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his knee, an injury that occurred in training camp. He was forced to take a cut in pay to re-establish himself as an NHL goalie as he made $1.2 million last year. The signing of Harding makes Jose Theodore expendable as Harding will likely back up Niklas Backstrom once again next year. Look for Harding to get into 25-30 games if healthy, and more if Backstrom is not healthy. He is worth a pick in deep drafts as a handcuff to Backstrom.

Josh Harding wants all NHL teams to know that he is healthy after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn MCL and ACL in his knee on September 24, 2010. Harding will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and is unlikely to re-sign with the Wild as Minnesota seems to be targeting Jose Theodore who performed admirably as the backup to Niklas Backstrom last season. "I've had no setbacks with the knee ever since I started skating with a couple months left in the year there," Harding said. "I've had no trouble with it. I feel strong with it. I've had no restrictions. I have no hesitation going down [into the butterfly]." When on his game, Harding can be a starting netminder but he will be happy to catch on with another NHL team before the start of training camp in September.