James Hardie

August 2021 – Having not played in 2020-21 due to the pandemic, Hardie was once again passed over in the NHL Draft. He has been invited to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp this offseason. Nick Richard

October 2020 – Hardie passed through the 2020 NHL Draft without a selection. He will re-enter the draft in 2021.  Jokke Nevalainen

September 2020 – The production is there. His ability to work along the boards is good when engaged. He is a more than capable passer. The big issue with Hardie’s game is that his skating is quite underwhelming. He is able to outwork his deficiencies as a skater at the junior level but the concern is that if his skating doesn’t improve, he won’t be able to utilize what makes him valuable, his strong shot. When he gets himself into a good position, Hardie’s shot is very good and should be a tool that whoever drafts the Steelheads star should look to build around. His defensive game is a work in progress but improved skating and mobility should go a long way to improving that area of his game as well. He is a high-risk project that will need direct attention from a skating and skills coach. If Hardie can take a step in the skating department, he could become a valuable contributor at the next level. Tony Ferrari