Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) is shown during an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Philadelphia, in this Sunday, April 11, 2021, file photo. (Derik Hamilton/AP)
Carter Hart cleared and headed to Vegas
Goaltender Carter Hart is joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization after being among five Canadian hockey players found not guilty of sexual assault charges this summer. The Golden Knights announced Hart’s addition Thursday, saying the goalie had been reinstated by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. Hart, 27, is on a paid tryout expected to be converted to an NHL contract; if signed, he would be eligible to begin playing in the NHL on Dec. 1.
“The Golden Knights are aligned with the process and assessment the NHL and NHLPA made in their decision,” the team said. “We remain committed to the core values that have defined our organization from its inception and expect that our players will continue to meet these standards moving forward.”
From leave of absence to training in Nashville
Hart was the starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers when the criminal charges were announced. He took an indefinite leave of absence shortly before the charges were made public. Unlike some others involved in the case, Hart chose not to play overseas and instead trained in Nashville while the legal process unfolded. The Flyers later stated Hart would not be rejoining the team.
Hart was one of five players on Canada’s 2018 under-20 world junior team who acquitted in July. The trial in London, Ontario, stemmed from an alleged assault after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala. They criminally charged players in 2024. Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia ruled prosecutors did not meet the onus on any of the counts and said she did not find EM’s evidence “credible or reliable.”
What’s next for Hart and the Golden Knights
Sources say Hart will report to Vegas to begin training under conditions set by the NHL and NHLPA. He is to go to Henderson, Nevada, and get game action beginning Nov. 15 with the Golden Knights’ minor-league affiliate. Several teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, reportedly explored signing Hart before Vegas moved in.
Vegas already has depth in goal: starter Adin Hill signed a six-year extension in March. And 25-year-old Akira Schmid is under contract for this season. If Hart’s tryout converts to a deal, he would join that crease rotation while awaiting NHL eligibility in December.
Hart’s NHL résumé
A second-round pick by Philadelphia in the 2016 draft, Carter Hart has played 227 career NHL games, posting a 2.94 goals-against average. And a .906 save percentage. Those numbers and his experience make him an attractive option for teams seeking goaltending depth as the regular season progresses.
The other four players involved in the Team Canada case. Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod. They may not be joining NHL teams immediately, sources said. The Ottawa Senators hold Formenton’s rights but may not sign him. McLeod signed a three-year deal to play in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League earlier this month.
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