Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon spills the truth about signing Carter Hart

Earlier this month, the Vegas Golden Knights made a controversial decision that got a lot of people talking, signing embroiled goaltender Carter Hart to a professional tryout contract, with plans to add him to the main roster when he becomes eligible to return to NHL action on December 1.While Hart is not eligible to play in an NHL game until December 1 and is currently only on a PTO with Vegas, there are already talks that he will be signed for a short-term deal, and could earn $2 million per season.

The move still has fans across the league uncomfortable with the Golden Knights’ decision and finally on Tuesday, general manager Kelly McCrimmon made his first public comments since the controversial signing during his weekly appearance on the VGK Insider Show. The GM first revealed how the team went about signing Hart despite the buzz around him and the 2018 WJC trial. As you most certainly recall, Hart was selected by the Flyers in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft and 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.

“We had monitored that situation all the way through and it was dealt with in the court system and the NHL and NHLPA conferred and made the decisions they made, so we monitored that all the way. We took our guidance from there. Once that was cleared he was a player we were interested in. I think he’s a good person, I think he spoke well when we introduced him to the media. He’s a player I’ve known for many years from his time in the Western Hockey League.”

McCrimmon then continued on exactly why he signed Hart, saying:

“I think his abilities on the ice are good, but we wouldn’t have crossed that threshold if we didn’t believe in the person.”

The general manager also thought Hart fielded questions with professionalism and has been impressed with how he’s looked so far after a nearly two-year layoff.

Hart will become eligible to play in NHL games beginning on December 1st. And it’s almost certain that some fans will be opposed to his return.