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Wild think Harding will be fine for start of training camp

Josh Harding

Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding (37) cools down with a splash of water during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

AP

For the first half of the 2013-14 campaign, Josh Harding was one of the best stories in the league. The long-time Minnesota Wild backup goaltender broke out with a 18-7-3 record, 1.65 GAA, and .933 save percentage in 29 games.

He didn’t play after Dec. 31 due to symptoms related to his multiple sclerosis, but Wild GM Chuck Fletcher thinks Harding will be ready for the start of training camp, per NHL.com.

“I think his battles are well chronicled and well known. I think he’s feeling well at this point in time,” Fletcher said. “The goal for him is, much like last summer, to build up and get to a point where he’ll be able to come into training camp and play well. There’s been nothing that I’ve heard of to lead me to not believe that to be the case.”

Goaltenders Niklas Backstrom (abdomen) and Darcy Kuemper (concussion) should also be ready for training camp.

After being hit hard by goaltending injuries during the 2013-14 campaign, Fletcher previously suggested that there’s “a realistic chance” that they’ll “need to have three goaltenders next year.”

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