Goaltender Carter Hart is expected to be recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights when his NHL suspension ends next week, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports.
The NHL announced in September that it was reinstating the five players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018 when they were members of Canada’s world junior team, and that they would be eligible to sign a contract Oct. 15 and take part in games Dec. 1.
Hart, Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were all found not guilty by a judge this summer in their high-profile trial in London, Ont.
Hart, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Golden Knightsin October, has spent the past month with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, appearing in two games.
“He’s on track to resume his NHL career as of next week, which is when the official suspension lifts, December 1, from the NHL. The expectation is that he will be recalled by the Golden Knights,” Johnston said on Insider Trading. “Hart has spent the last couple weeks in the AHL with the team in Henderson getting regular practice time.
“He’s played two games on a conditioning stint, going 1-1 in those games.[He’s]due to make another start Friday and then the Golden Knights, which remain withoutAdin Hill in the crease, are expected to recall Hart and start leaning on him, even though he hasn’t played in the league in almost two years now.”
The 27-year-old netminder turned aside 12 of the 14 shots he faced in his first professional games since February 2024 on Nov. 16 and allowed three goals on 26 shots in his second outing on Nov. 21.
The Golden Knights (10-5-7) have leaned on Akira Schmid and Carl Lindbom in the crease with Hill sidelined by a lower-body injury since Oct. 20. Schmid has a 9-1-3 record with a .902 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA, while Lindbom has struggled with an 0-4-2 record with an .872 save percentage and a 3.16 GAA.
Hart had a 12-9-3 record with the Flyers with a .906 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average in 26 games during the 2023-24 season before being charged.
He carried a cap hit of $3.98 million on his most recent contract, which expired in 2024.
In 227 career NHL games, all with the Flyers, Hart has a 96-93-29 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. He was selected 48th overall in the 2016 draft.
