Golden Knights Welcome Carter Hart to Their Roster

The Vegas Golden Knights announced on Thursday that they have officially signed goaltender Carter Hart, who recently overcame serious legal challenges. Hart, along with four other former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team, was found not guilty of sexual assault allegations dating back to 2018. Following this decision, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association reinstated Hart, allowing him to return to professional hockey.

The Golden Knights expressed their commitment to the core values of their organization in a public statement: "Following the reinstatement decision agreed upon by the NHL and NHLPA, goaltender Carter Hart will be joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization. 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."

The court’s ruling came in July when Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia determined that the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof required for a conviction. The case had a lengthy history, initially being closed by police in 2019, before being reopened in light of a lawsuit against Hockey Canada in 2022. After the legal proceedings, the players involved took a leave of absence, and four of them were not offered qualifying contracts after the 2023-24 season.

The NHL clarified that while the players were acquitted, their conduct during the incident fell short of the expectations for moral integrity set forth by the league. "The events that transpired... were deeply troubling and unacceptable," the NHL’s statement read, underscoring the high standards required from all players.

Having previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2018-24, Hart accumulated a career record of 227 games with a .906 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.94. The Golden Knights, who have started the 2025-26 season with a 2-0-2 record, are looking forward to Hart’s contributions as they prepare to face the Boston Bruins next Thursday.