Josh Harding says MS diagnosis won’t end his NHL career

EDINA, MINN.Sitting on a white leather couch in the living room of his suburban Minneapolis home, Josh Harding doesnt get emotional as he tells his story.

He looks completely healthy. He doesnt seem scared. He speaks so confidently, so courageously, youd never know his life has been altered forever.

I dont look at this like Ive got to take a new path, said Harding, drafted 10 years ago by the Wild and months off signing a new three-year contract. This is a little bump in the road. Ive had lots in life.

Harding, 28, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an incurable autoimmune disease in which the body randomly attacks and eats away the protective lining of his nerves and causes them to scar. It causes problems with balance, fatigue and blurred vision. There are 25,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States every year.

I had a couple days where I felt bad for myself, but no more, said Harding, who plans on continuing his career. Theres things in life that happen. Sometimes you cant explain it. You deal with it.

After keeping the disease private from everyone other than his immediate family for more than a month, Harding began calling friends Wednesday. He spoke to nearly every one of his teammates. He called Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and coach Mike Yeo.

Joshs competitive fire has led him to a successful career in the NHL and we know he will approach this new battle in the same manner, Fletcher said.

And Harding has made clear that MS will not end his career.

Theres going to be some good days and bad days, but I think if you talk to anybody in life, theres going to be some good days and bad days, Harding said.

It started with a tweak in his neck. That evolved into dizziness, seeing black spots and numbness in his right leg.

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Josh Harding says MS diagnosis won’t end his NHL career