That sound is the Minnesota Wild sighing with relief.
Josh Harding cleared waivers Wednesday, going unclaimed on the wire after being activated from injured reserved Tuesday.
Since he wasn’t snapped up by one of a handful of clubs with mediocre backup goaltending, the 30-year-old goaltender will be assigned to AHL Iowa.
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Just one year ago, Harding was one of the league’s best stories. He went 18-7-3 with a sparkling 1.65 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and three shutouts in 29 appearances last season before being shut down in early 2014 because of issues with the medication he takes for M.S.
“His focus and goal is to get back and be a quality NHL goaltender again, so it’s another step for him,” general manager Chuck Fletcher told the Star-Tribune Monday.
Harding hasn’t suited up for any games this season after breaking his foot in an off-ice incident in the off-season. Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom have shared the crease for the Wild this season, backstopping the team to a seventh-ranked goal-against average (2.29).
“The reality is he hasn’t played in a game since Dec. 31. He missed training camp and the first month-and-a-half this season, and that’s a lot of time for any player to miss,” Fletcher said. “There’s really no sense in putting a timetable on how long it’ll take him to get ready. This move allows us to just give him the time that he needs to get his game back.”
In other waiver news, Dallas Stars defenceman Kevin Connauton was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday. Connauton had registered two assists in eight games with the Stars this season.