Carter Hart seeks to dictate his NHL future with latest move

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Brière confirmed Tuesday that Carter Hart will not be returning to the team this season. According to Brière, Hart’s agent made it clear the goaltender is seeking a “fresh start” as he prepares for his potential return to the NHL.

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. McLeod also faced an additional charge of being a party to the offence.

In July, Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted all five players. However, the NHL quickly deemed their conduct “unacceptable,” suspending them from immediate reinstatement despite the acquittal. That decision was met with criticism from the NHLPA, which pushed back against the league’s stance.

Last week, it was confirmed that the group will be eligible to sign contracts starting October 15 and can return to NHL action on December 1.

And while Hart wants a fresh start, he also appears determined to dictate the terms of his next move. Insider Chris Johnston reports that multiple NHL teams are already pursuing the goaltender, with Hart particularly focused on joining a U.S.-based contender where he would have a clear path to starting opportunities.

Hart’s case remains a huge point of debate in the hockey community, balancing the acquittal in court with questions of accountability raised by the league. Still, with eligibility restored in October and a full return in December, Hart is drawing significant interest and appears determined to reset his career in the NHL.

Of the five players, four, Hart, Dube, Foote, and McLeod, had active NHL careers before the charges surfaced in 2023–24. They now sit as unrestricted free agents. Formenton, who last played in the NHL in 2022, recently rejoined HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland.