Carter Hart, the 27-year-old goaltender once part of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, is making his return to the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights after being acquitted of sexual assault. His suspension from the league ended on Monday, allowing him to join the team just in time for Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Hart, who signed with the Golden Knights in October, had a brief conditioning stint in the American Hockey League (AHL) before being recalled by the NHL team on Sunday. He will step up as the starting goaltender, as confirmed by Head Coach Bruce Cassidy.
Alongside Hart, four other members of the 2018 team—Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton—faced similar charges stemming from an incident after a gala event celebrating that same year’s gold medal. They were acquitted in a trial that took place in London, Ontario, on July 24. While Hart is the first of the five to join an NHL team post-acquittal, McLeod has signed with a club in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, and Formenton is playing in Switzerland. Foote recently secured an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves, and Dubé has not played this season after spending time in the KHL.
Hart, originally from Sherwood Park, Alberta, previously played six seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers before taking a leave of absence in January 2024. After the Flyers did not extend a qualifying offer, he became an unrestricted free agent. The Golden Knights have shared goaltending responsibilities between Adin Hill and Akira Schmid this season. During his conditioning stint, Hart recorded a 1-2-0 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage.
In an emotional YouTube video released by the Golden Knights, Hart expressed that the desire to return to the NHL fueled his perseverance over the past few years. “I’ve worked my ass off to get back to this point… it’s going to feel good to get back out there,” he said, highlighting his excitement and dedication to the game. He also emphasized his commitment to community involvement, mentioning that he and his team aided local homeless populations while in Henderson.
As the Vegas Golden Knights prepare to face the Chicago Blackhawks, fans eagerly await Hart’s comeback, hoping for a strong performance that could reignite his career in the NHL. The game is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Eastern.