The Blackhawks made their first Saturday trade, sending a 2022 third-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for the No. 91 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Chicago did not have a third-round pick this year’s draft before that trade.
With that pick, the Blackhawks took defenseman Taige Harding from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL. Harding, 19, is committed to playing with Providence College in the NCAA next season.
Welcome to the #Blackhawks, Taige!
Quick question do you have a brother? pic.twitter.com/5bPmzZ2uew
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 24, 2021
Harding is 6-foot-7, 236 pounds and is the son of Mike Harding — a veteran of British hockey leagues. Harding was born in Irving, Scotland.
Harding scored five goals and 13 points in 16 games in the 2020-21 AJHL season. In the prior season — his age-18 season — he played in 46 games with six points and went undrafted.
Outside of that, it’s hard to find much more information on Harding. He was not listed in the final prospects rankings from Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman of The Athletic, nor was he among the players included in the rankings from NHL Central Scouting.