Goalie drama already happening in Vegas with leaked details on Carter Hart's deal

When it’s not signing embroiled goaltender Carter Hart to a professional tryout contract, it’s losing starting netminder Adam Hill long term. Earlier this week, the Vegas Golden Knights confirmed that Hill was listed week to week with an apparent leg injury. It’s a tough blow for Vegas and back up Akira Schmid, but he’s managed to answer the call, going 4-0 for his team. However, drama emerges on the horizon once Hill can return and Hart is eligible to play, as Elliotte Friedman pointed out in his latest 32 Thoughts column on Sportsnet:

“Vegas will have a surprisingly interesting decision to make in goal. Akira Schmid is 4-0, coming off the bench for an injured Adin Hill as the Golden Knights became the first team to beat Carolina. When Hill is healthy and Carter Hart is eligible, will they carry three, make a move, or risk losing Schmid on waivers? He’s been excellent with his job on the line.”

Hart, who’s been practicing with the team, becomes eligible to return to NHL action on December 1 and plans indicate that the Knights will add him to the active roster. Insider Frank Seravalli recently reported how Hart is likely to get a significant contract once he can officially return to the league, possibly inking a one or two year contract, with some good money attached to it.

On Friday, Darren Dreger reported that Vegas will convert Carter Hart’s PTO to a standard player contract, believed to be 2 years with a cap hit of $2M.

This will mean a full goalie carousel in Vegas with Hill potentially returning around the same time, and so what could this mean for Schmid. I’m sure that if he needs to go through waivers, he will be claimed off it and the Golden Knights will lose a tremendous player.

I’m not sure I’d want to gamble on this, especially when the other option is a controversial goalie who hasn’t played in almost two years.

Drafted by the Flyers in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, he spent six seasons in Philadelphia before parting ways in January 2024. His departure came amid legal proceedings stemming from a June 2018 incident at a London, Ontario, hotel following a Hockey Canada gala. Hart, along with Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote, faced charges, but all five were acquitted by Justice Maria Carroccia earlier this summer. After months of uncertainty and negotiations between the NHL and the NHLPA, Hart and his fellow acquitted players became eligible to sign contracts last Wednesday. Hart is the only one as of now to get a chance back into the NHL.

This will be quite the dilemma in Vegas, and honestly the drama could get ugly…