Hart Lands with Golden Knights Following Sexual Assault Acquittal
The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with goaltender Carter Hart, making him the first of the five 2018 Team Canada world junior players to sign an NHL contract following their acquittal in a high-profile sexual assault case.
Vegas announced the deal Thursday with undisclosed terms, just two days after the signing window opened for the players involved.
Hart and the other players (Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton) remain ineligible to suit up until December 1 as part of the league's reinstatement process.
"The Golden Knights are aligned with the process and assessment the NHL and NHLPA made in their decision," the team said in a statement. "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."
Where the Others Stand
McLeod, who was also found not guilty of an additional charge of being a party to the offense, signed a three-year deal with the KHL. Formenton is currently playing in Switzerland, though it's unclear whether he has an out clause that would allow an NHL return. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2022 with Ottawa.
"Each team is going to have to make its own decision," Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday following the NHL's Board of Governors meeting in New York. "They know the rules. And it's up to them to decide whether or not, subject to those rules, they want to move forward."
Fresh Start for Hart
The 27-year-old netminder is resuming his career with Vegas after spending his first six seasons with Philadelphia. The Flyers ruled out bringing Hart back last month, with his camp communicating to GM Daniel Briere that a fresh start made more sense for all parties involved.
The Case and League Response
The players were charged in 2024 in connection with an incident that occurred in London, Ontario, in 2018. The judge overseeing the trial determined the prosecution could not meet the burden of proof required for conviction and that the complainant's allegations lacked the credibility necessary to justify the charges.
The NHL conducted its own investigation beginning in spring 2022 when the allegations first surfaced. When announcing the reinstatement timeline in September, the league called the events "deeply troubling and unacceptable," noting that while the conduct wasn't found to be criminal, it didn't meet the league's standard of moral integrity.
The NHLPA stated at the time that the players cooperated with every investigation and considers the matter closed.
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