I read a couple of weeks ago that Stevie Y was in Vancouver to see Harding play against the Canucks.
Harding's last 6 games. 1-3-2 2.58 GA 924%. Pretty solid numbers for a losing record like that.

I thought someone might know why this won't happen or if they have heard anything along these lines? Thanks.

I hope so! My goaltending in my keeper is currently Lundqvist, S Mason and Harding. Mason isn't exactly an ideal #2 goalie.

I think Harding will be the first goalie to be traded for since he'll likely be the cheapest due to him being a UFA and having a history of a severe injury.

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H2H Each Cat - Yahoo - 14 teams - Cap Hit
Start: 2C 2LW 2RW 4D 2U 2G 7B
Cats: G A +- PIM SOG PPG PPA SHP GWG FW HIT W GAA SV SV% SO
Svalbard Armored Bears:
C: Getz, M Richards(LW), Turdis, Little
LW: Kovy(RW), Moulson, Kunitz, _
RW: Eriksson(LW), Clarkson, _, _
D: Pietrangelo, JJ, Streit, Spurgeon, Brodie, Nikitin
G: Lundqvist, Holtby, Harding
JV: Tarasenko, Bishop, Eakin, Killorn, Grigorgenko, Grimaldi, Collberg, Faksa, Lindholm, Irving

Yeah it has been speculative that Harding could be traded to Tampa and I would love to see the Wild get something for Harding, but if I was Tampa I wouldn't trade for Harding right now. I would just ride this season out and bring up Tokarski or just stay status quo and get a decent pick this year. Even if they traded for Harding right now I don't think they would make the playoffs. If they don't want to give up the goods to get Schnieder or Bernier then they might as well just wait and sign Harding in the offseason since he is a UFA. IMO the only reason they should trade for Harding is if they want him on their team now to get comfortable with their system and to have his negotiating rights.

Highly doubtful. Recent article in Tampa Tribune said not to expect any trades. Tampa will not give up prospects or draft picks for rental player since it doesn't look like Bolts will be make the playoffs. Harding and Elliott are UFa's, they will look at this summer.

I am not so certain that we see Harding or any goalies moved right now. I count four serious buyers on the goaltending front: Toronto, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Columbus.

Toronto really just needs a competitive veteran to stabilize things so another young guy just complicates matters.

Tampa Bay needs a future stud but Harding is uncontrollable after this year. Why pay for him when you could easily sign him as a UFA this off-season. Plus, if you are going to pay, you probably want to gain a controllable asset with the most upside possible.

New Jersey has a solid band-aid in Brodeur and Hedberg. That does not help them long term but in the midst of a playoff run do they really care. They are another team that could just look to make a move in the off-season.

Columbus is the one team that really needs help. Any and all solutions are welcome but again, why spend on the uncontrollable and weaker upside Harding when there are more intriguing players elsewhere.

More over, the Wild get more out of their situation allowing Hackett to be the guy down in Houston and hoping to stay competitive with their current goaltending tandem. It would take a really nice piece to get them to move Harding even if he is a UFA.

There are still 40 or so days until the trade deadline so there is still a lot of time for teams to get desperate, including the Wild so I will rule nothing out here but as the current situation stands I am pessimistic about a goalie trade going down. The market is saturated with many high-end but expensive (to trade for) options and few desperate buyers. That leads me to believe we are headed towards a Mexican stand-off and everyone has fresh legs.

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I'm surprised people aren't mentioning Nittymaki with these Toronto / Tampa Bay goaltending trade rumours...

With Niemi and Greiss in the SJ goalie-stable, and Greiss entrenched as the unquestioned back-up to Niemi, Nittymaki is on the outside of the situation looking in.

Nitty is finally healthy, anxious to play, and offers the "veteran" presence - as Steve mentioned - that Toronto is in dire need of right now.

Since Tampa is largely out of the hunt going into the 2nd half of the season, I don't really see them as a buyer [unless of course an attractive deal centering around a long-term G option is on the table; i.e. Schneider, Bernier] for this season.

More likely, Tampa will just wait until the offseason and make a HUGE push at a guy like Schneider.

As for Toronto and Nittymaki, this is definitely the type of move we could see go down over the course of the next month or so.

Cheers.

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mounD: 2011-12 Champs // 2012-13 Champs
12 Team H2H Keeper (Keep 18)
3C, 3LW, 3RW, 3F, 6D, 2G, 5BN (IR)
G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, SHP, SOG, FoW // W, Sv%, GAA, SHO

C: Getzlaf, Backes(RW),B. Richards,
LW: Parise, Hall, Kunitz, Ladd, Marchand(C,LW)
RW: Kessel, Neal(LW) Hossa, Burrows(Lw)
D: Karlsson, Chara, Burns, Boyle
G: Rinne, M. Smith
Bn: Jussi Jokinen(C,LW), Cammalleri(C,LW), Weiss(C), Timonen, Visnosky

Farm: Kadri, Coyle, Gallagher, Järnkrok - Barrie, Trouba, Vatanen - Khudobin

If you read Elliotte Friedman's recent 30 Thoughts he touches on a lot of this stuff. Apparently people still have serious concerns about Niitty's hip. But you make a good point, he is possibly the most available goaltender right now.

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