Prospect Finn Harding wants 'to prove the Penguins right for believing in me'

Finn Harding is patient.

He waited a long time to get drafted.

About a year (plus more than 200 selections).

The right-handed defenseman did not hear his name called the first year he was eligible to be selected in the NHL Draft (2023).

About 12 months later, Harding went through the process again and waited.

And waited.

Then waited some more.

In the seventh round, at selection No. 223 (out of 225), Harding was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins as a 19-year-old with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League.

“I got passed up (in 2023),” Harding said July 6 during the Penguins prospect development camp in Cranberry. “Watched the whole thing. Was watching the whole (2024) draft, and near the end, I was hopeful. Heard my name called on the TV. I was in the living room with my family. It was pretty cool.

“But, you know, it’s one step in the right direction. A lot of work to be done. Just kind of take it in stride and keep going.”

Harding took some major strides in an agreeable direction last season.

Appointed as an alternate captain of the relocated Brampton Steelheads, Harding wound up eighth in scoring among OHL defensemen last season with 57 points (seven goals, 50 assists) in 67 games.

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— Brampton Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) November 10, 2024

That represented a considerable jump in production from the previous season when he posted 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) in 68 contests.

“Last summer, I kind of went in with the plan to expand my game and add tools to the box, for sure, on the offensive side,” Harding said. “My game is more defensively and transitional. And I wanted to add and be (a two-way player). I did that, and I was able to get the opportunity. Had good teammates around me. The stuff that I worked on, it really helped. Had more production, which is nice.”

Harding, now 20, also benefited from the Penguins’ development staff, which regularly dropped into Brampton to provide instruction.

“Absorbs everything we’ve thrown at him,” Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. “Throughout his season in Brampton, he was thrown into every different role. He was killing penalties (and) on the power play. There was times during the Christmas stretch where (other players) were at (the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship tournament), and he was playing 30 minutes a night and just eating it up.

“A lot of growth in his game. His skating, it keeps getting better. Speed is always going to be something … that he’s going to have to keep getting better on. But he’s a willing learner. He’s learning how to defend really hard consistently (and) move pucks. Some offensive side to him. Exciting times for him.”

Things got even more exciting March 3 when he signed his entry-level contract with the Penguins.

“That was my goal for the season, to sign a contract,” Harding said. “Like (with) the draft, it’s another good step in the right direction. I’m obviously honored. I want to keep proving (Penguins management) right and thank them for to keep believing in me. Now, it’s just up to me to keep pushing and developing so I can be able to help out the team one day.”

Once his season with Brampton came to a conclusion, Harding (6-foot-1, 201) was assigned to the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and got his first professional experience, including a handful of postseason games.

“It’s different when you’re playing against 17-,18-, 19-, 20-year-olds,” Harding said. “You’re against 25-, 26-,27, 28-year-olds. It’s different. Guys are a bit stronger, guys are a bit quicker. So I definitely picked up some good things. I know what I need to work on for the pro game. I learned a lot.”

He long ago learned the value of patience.

“I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason,” Harding said. “Obviously, you want to get drafted. If you don’t, there’s plenty of ways to make it. I was a little anxious towards the end. (No.) 223, it’s not that early by any means, but I was just happy to be drafted and motivated. Definitely have a chip on my shoulder trying to prove that I’m better than that, prove my believers right and prove the Penguins right for believing in me.”