New information further links Carter Hart to the Oilers!

Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman was clear when he met with reporters ahead of the opening of free agency this past weekend, he was looking for an upgrade in between the pipes.

Which hasn’t come. Yet.

On Tuesday, when the market opened, insider Kevin Weekes stunned everyone when he mentioned how Bowman was reportedly considering signing none other than Carter Hart in Edmonton. Weekes talked about the possibility less than 30 minutes into TSN’s Free Agent Show.

As you may remember, five players were charged in the 2018 World Junior alleged sexual assault, including Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Michael McLeod. They were all charged with one count of sexual assault in the 2018 World Junior alleged incident that allegedly occurred following a Hockey Canada gala in Ontario in June 2018. Court documents from 2022 revealed London police believed they had reasonable grounds to accuse five players of sexually assaulting a young woman in a hotel room. At the time, the Philadelphia Flyers parted ways with Carter, making him a free agent. The trial started back in April, and a verdict is expected by the end of the month.

If found not guilty, Hart could be back in the NHL, but would probably need to undergo whatever discipline the league decides to impose on the five players who are defendants in the case.

Caleb Kerney of the Hockey News has shared new information that brings Hart even closer to a possible contract in Edmonton, sharing that he “grew up around Edmonton and is friends with Stuart Skinner (another local kid).”

Hart made 25 starts for the Flyers in the 2023-24 season before he left to deal with much bigger issues. In total, Hart played 227 total games for the Flyers, including 218 starts. He was a second-round pick by the Flyers in the 2016 NHL draft.

While some may still consider him a top goalie, can you imagine PR nightmare if the Oilers consider signing him? As Kerney puts it:

“ It’s one thing for the Oilers to hire Bowman, considering the part he played in the Kyle Beach situation with the Chicago Blackhawks ; it’s another thing for the team to sign a player who has been accused of a group sexual assault.”

While awaiting for trial, Hart was reportedly still training but when he attempted to leave Canada back in September in order to get to Tennessee to focus on training, he was blocked by US Customs officers. The goalie has been trying to revive his career following the time he was exposed as part of the 2018 Team Canada scandal and while GM Bowman might feel that a goalie like him is needed in Edmonton, there is no way Hart is making an NHL return, at least until we get a verdict on July 24th… and can you imagine the Oilers’ fans’ reactions?