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It’s being reported that Boston College men’s hockey sophomore Mike Hardman will sign a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks in the coming days. This comes just after Boston College’s season ended against St. Cloud State in the NCAA Regional Finals. Hardman went undrafted each year he was eligible for the NHL draft.
Just heard from a source that Mike Hardman (#Blackhawks) is locking up an ELC with the Chicago Blackhawks.
— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) March 29, 2021
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
In 2 seasons with the Eagles, Hardman played 49 games, scored 20 goals, and recorded 18 assists. He was a member of the Eagles’ extraordinary top line, that also included Matt Boldy and Alex Newhook, which led the team to one of the best offenses in the nation this year.
This signing is a bit of a surprise, as he was not one of the highest-touted recruits on the team. Hardman went undrafted in the same NHL draft in 2019 that saw fellow Eagles Spencer Knight, Matt Boldy, Alex Newhook, Drew Helleson, and Marshall Warren each selected by NHL squads. Hardman is a talented player and could very well succeed in the NHL, but this jump was moreso expected from those players listed above. It may not be a good sign for Boston College’s roster continuity if this signing is bearing of more news to come.
We wish Mike the best of luck in his professional hockey career!