Several NHL prospects playing in the Ontario Hockey League signed entry-level contracts within the last week, and the third-last player to go in the 2024 NHL draft was one of them.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced the signing of Brampton Steelheads defenseman Finn Harding to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26.
Harding, a 6-foot-1, 206-pound right-shot defenseman, has been Brampton’s best defenseman all year long. The team has experienced many ups and downs this season, but Harding has had an excellent campaign.
The 2005-born defender from Toronto, Ontario played 63 games in 2022-23, recording 10 points. He wasn’t picked in the 2023 NHL draft in large part due to playing in a sheltered role that season and not getting a lot of exposure.
Harding was drafted 151st overall in the eighth round in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, after losing out on a full year of development playing in Ontario due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last season, Harding flew under the radar for the Steelheads, and was voted the 2023-24 CHL Shutdown Defenseman of the Year by Sportlogiq.
Finn Harding was a major disruptor to opposition offences this season. The reliable blue-liner ranked extremely high in key defensive metrics that stopped forwards in their tracks and regained possession for his squad. Logging big minutes for a Steelheads team that finished 3rd in the OHL in goals against, Harding’s sound positioning & great defensive stick also led him to the highest plus/minus in Steelheads history at +38.
– Wrote Sportloqig.
According to Sportlogiq, amongst all OHL defensemen last year, Harding ranked first in stick checks (222), first in defensive zone loose puck recoveries (1142), second in defensive zone denials (228), second in blocked defensive zone passes (206), and tied for sixth in defensive zone puck battle wins (111).
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It’s been status quo for Harding defensively this season, but has seen a huge uptick in his offensive production, as he’s seen more usage on the powerplay.
Harding leads Brampton in plus/minus (+42) and points amongst defensemen (55). He’s fifth overall amongst all OHL defensemen in both those categories, showcasing his potential to be an NHL player some day.
It’s rare to see a seventh-rounder receive an NHL contract in his first season after being drafted, but Harding deserved this pay day.
Harding has many desirable traits that NHL teams covet in a defenseman. He’s a right-shot with good size, a very fluid skater with nimble four-way mobility, plays with an edge, and is a highly efficient puck-moving defenseman on the breakout.
Here’s a fun tidbit: Harding played his U15 AAA season in the GTHL for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens alongside his Steelheads teammate Carson Rehkopf.
That squad also featured OHLers Zayne Parekh, Anthony Romani, Luca Pinelli, Luke McNamara, Nicholas Sima, and James Guo.
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