Carter Hart explains exactly how he has grown and become a better person

Carter Hart's journey back to professional hockey has been anything but conventional. Now, as the Vegas Golden Knights prepare to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup final beginning tonight in Raleigh, N.C., the goaltender finds himself at the center of both a championship run and an ongoing public debate about his place in the sport.

Hart was among five players from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team who were acquitted of sexual assault charges last July. The NHL subsequently ruled those players eligible to sign contracts starting October 15 and to return to game action beginning December 1. Vegas wasted little time, inking Hart to a two-year deal worth US$4 million. Since then, the 27-year-old netminder has transformed from a controversial signing into a legitimate Conn Smythe Trophy contender.

Back in October when he was signed, Hart was asked by reporters how he had changed since 2018 and for proof that he had done work on himself to become a better man. The goaltender gave non-specific answers back then and, frankly, seemed to brush off the question. Yesterday though, Hart was more thoughtful and considerate when asked for an update.

“I’ve learned a lot,” Hart said. “I’ve grown a lot since then. And I’ve been able to meet a lot of good people in the community, and I think the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation has done a really good job of making it easy for me to integrate into the community and meet a lot of cool people and — just really fortunate to be here in Vegas.

“And it’s a great culture of people, and like I said, I met a lot of cool people, and I’m just very fortunate to be here in Las Vegas and with this group.”

And after uttering those words, Vegas' PR staff shut down Hart's media availability. No follow-up questions allowed, no further elaboration. A scheduled 15 minute availability was shut down after just six minutes.

You can't take away anything from Hart's performance on the ice, but it's clear that the team is protecting him off the ice. The funny thing is, Hart himself seems willing to stand up for himself and address issues head-on. Like I said, his answer yesterday was thoughtful and measured. And it's clear that the questions from reporters won't be going away anytime soon. How long will Vegas' PR staff keep a muzzle on this guy?

Hart's reintegration into the NHL did not go smoothly at first. His early numbers with Vegas were far from inspiring, posting a 5-3-3 record alongside a 3.23 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage. Making matters worse, a lower-body injury sustained during a January 8 game against Columbus sidelined him for close to three months. While he recovered, the Golden Knights relied on Adin Hill and Akira Schmid, neither of whom provided consistent goaltending.

Everything changed when the Golden Knights fired head coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games remaining in the regular season and brought in John Tortorella as his replacement. Tortorella, who had previously coached Hart in Philadelphia, immediately installed him as the starter. The results were stunning. Hart rattled off six consecutive wins to close out the regular season, posting a 1.67 GAA and a .930 save percentage.

That momentum has carried directly into the postseason. Through three rounds, Hart owns a 12-4 record with a 2.22 GAA and .924 save percentage. His six-game winning streak includes a sweep of the Colorado Avalanche, a team that led the entire NHL with 3.63 goals per game during the regular season but managed just 1.75 per contest against Hart and the Vegas defense.

"I think he's just been getting more and more confident each game, each round he's played," forward Brett Howden said. "He does an unbelievable job of keeping us in the game. He'll bail us out if we need to be bailed out."

Tortorella, for his part, has expressed deep confidence in Hart's mental fortitude. The coach noted that Hart was developing into a top-tier goaltender in Philadelphia before the league suspended him and the other players involved in the scandal, and believes that growth has resumed in Vegas.

"I think he's a strong kid mentally," Tortorella said. "He was growing tremendously in Philly until he had to step out of the league, and he's right back at it."

Despite his on-ice excellence, the circumstances surrounding Hart's return to professional hockey remain a lightning rod for discussion. The charges stemmed from an incident in London, Ontario, that occurred in 2018 but were not formally brought until 2024. The presiding judge ultimately determined that the prosecution had not met the burden of proof and that the allegations lacked sufficient credibility to warrant conviction.

The NHL conducted its own investigation in 2022, and after the legal proceedings concluded, the league reinstated the players while simultaneously describing their actions as "deeply troubling and unacceptable." That characterization meant teams were not exactly lining up to sign the acquitted players. The Carolina Hurricanes, ironically now Vegas's opponent in the Cup final, reportedly considered signing both Hart and Michael McLeod before ultimately passing.

Vegas took a different approach, bringing Hart aboard and issuing a statement about remaining "committed to the core values that have defined our organization from its inception." Hart himself read a prepared statement to reporters at the time, expressing his desire "to show the community my true character and who I am and what I'm about."

Golden Knights fans have largely embraced him. When Hart first took the ice on December 2 against Chicago, the crowd greeted him with applause, and some fans even brought signs of support. Those ovations have only intensified as the team has advanced deeper into the playoffs.

The Hurricanes present a formidable challenge. Carolina enters the final with a dominant 12-1 playoff record and a goaltender of their own playing at an elite level. Frederik Andersen has been sensational, carrying a 1.41 GAA and .931 save percentage into the championship round. The Hurricanes outshot Montreal 139-67 over the final four games of the Eastern Conference final, showcasing the kind of relentless offensive pressure that could test Hart like no opponent has this spring.

Hart seems well aware of what lies ahead. "I have a lot of work to do," he said after the Colorado series. "We've just got to prepare for the next game. We'll be ready for Game 1."