Carter Hart narrows his decision down to two teams

UPDATE: NHL insider Chris Johnston reports today that free agent goaltender Carter Hart has narrowed down his choices for a new locale to just two places: Vegas or Raleigh.

Johnston reports that Hart has engaged in contract negotiations with both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes... with maybe one other team in the mix. We know now that Hart has declined offers from the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Utah Mammoth and that he has narrowed his focus to just Vegas and Carolina... again with a possible third team in the mix.

My guess? I'm willing to bet that that third mystery team is the Minnesota Wild. What am I basing that on? Not much, honestly... call it a 'gut feeling', I guess.

Read below for our earlier reports on Hart courtesy of Hockey Feed writer Chris Gosselin.

Free-agent goalie Carter Hart entered the offseason as one of the most intriguing names available. Hart, who was drafted by the Flyers in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, spent six seasons in Philadelphia before leaving the team in January 2024. His departure came as charges were pending in the London Hockey Trial, which concluded earlier this summer. Hart, along with Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote, faced charges stemming from a June 2018 incident at a London, Ontario, hotel following a Hockey Canada gala. In July, Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted all five players, and after some back and forth between the NHL and NHLPA, the group will be eligible to sign contracts starting October 15 and can return to NHL action on December 1.

But for Hart, as training camps open, it feels like his list of potential landing spots is shrinking by the day.

Insider Chris Johnston reported that the Utah Mammoth “certainly had internal conversations there; they’re not gonna be in on Carter Hart.” That decision is surprising, considering Utah just lost Connor Ingram on the first day of camp after he requested a fresh start elsewhere.

Hart’s situation is complicated. Beyond the obvious hockey fit, reports suggest he’s only interested in joining an American market. That alone rules out several teams that might otherwise take a chance on the 26-year-old. Add in the fact that a number of clubs have already gone public saying they’re not in the mix, and the pool of suitors is evaporating quickly.

For now, Hart remains unsigned, his future caught between limited interest and his own self-imposed restrictions on where he’s willing to play, probably looking to avoid the spotlight in Canada where the trial took place.

The question is whether one of the few remaining American clubs in need of goaltending depth will step forward, or whether Hart will be left waiting as options continue to dry up.