Restricted free agent goaltender Josh Harding signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. According to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the contract is worth $1.2 million, $100,000 more than the qualifying offer originally made to Harding back before July 1.

Harding has been the subject of trade rumors throughout his Minnesota career, and even with this deal, that may still be in the cards. Harding is the number two goalie behind Niklas Backstrom, and the number three goalie and current AHL starter, Anton Khudobin, wants to sign a one-way deal with the Wild.

Khudobin has a lot of potential and was very impressive in limited NHL action this past year, and the Wild could opt to give him the one-way deal he wants, making Harding expendable.

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