NEWSLETTER
While the NHL season is barreling down the stretch towards the trade deadline, the NCAA season is over for all but four teams left in the Men’s Frozen Four tournament. This is a time of the year where many college standouts who either were never drafted or have had their draft rights expire get the chance to be courted by NHL clubs.
One of the top unsigned prospects on the college free agent market is reportedly heading to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sources tell me undrafted Free Agent Mike Hardman is leaving Boston College and close to signing a free agent contract with the @NHLBlackhawks. Should sign tomorrow..6’3” 190. Just turned 22 years old. 10-9-19 in 24 games this season. Will be in Chicago this week. #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/dmQY2F0SDl
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) March 29, 2021
Usually if ESPN’s John Buccigross is talking about it in college hockey (or Cawlidge Hawkey), it’s as sure a thing as you can get. To add to the report from Buccigross, Elite Prospects’ J.D. Burke had the same report from his own source.
Just heard from a source that Mike Hardman (#Blackhawks) is locking up an ELC with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Just finished his Sophomore season with 19 points in 24 games. Connected the two in this article detailing NCAA Free Agency from last week.https://t.co/G70vX4yHqT
— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) March 29, 2021
Mike Hardman, a 22-year-old forward, just finished his second college season with Boston College. In 24 games this season, Hardman tallied 10 goals and 19 points. In his two seasons at Boston College, Hardman skated in 58 games and notched 44 points. At 6’2″ and nearly 200-pounds, Hardman is categorized as a “shoot-first” forward and played most of this season alongside 2019 first-round pick Alex Newhook (Avalanche).
From Corey Pronman of The Athletic: “Hardman has been an important player for a top college team the last two seasons. He has quick hands, can make some plays and score around the tough areas. He’s not a dynamic skill type, but he has good flashes. Hardman isn’t the quickest, though, which may hold him back from the NHL.”
https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1332475823731912704?s=20
It’s likely Hardman would head to the Rockford IceHogs before any consideration is made for him to get NHL time. The signing is a bit puzzling, since the Blackhawks just signed their own NCAA prospect Josiah Slavin and have Lukas Reichel likely signing his entry-level contract at some point this offseason.
We’ll have more on this once it becomes official.
*UPDATE*
It’s official.
Howdy Hardy! @BCHockey forward Mike Hardman has signed a 2-year deal through the 2021-22 season!
Hardman (who will wear No. 86) has been assigned to the taxi squad to begin his professional career immediately. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/JID5EGfTcd
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 30, 2021
Hardman signs a two-year, enters-level contract worth $912,000 AAV through the 2021-22 season. He will report to the Blackhawks’ taxi squad, rather than the IceHogs right away.
