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The Vegas Golden Knights came under fire from a number of voices in the NHL world on Thursday after the decision to sign controversial goaltender Carter Hart to a professional tryout deal.
Hart, who previously played six seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, missed all of the 2024-25 season while he was part of an ongoing legal investigation into an alleged sexual assault by five former members of Canada’s World Junior hockey team.
Hart, and the four other members who were on trial, were acquitted after Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia deemed that the accuser’s evidence was not “credible or reliable.”
But despite the legal findings, many fans believe that Hart and the four other players on trial don’t belong back the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights Issue Statement On Carter Hart Signing
Hart had been linked to two teams, primarily, following his acquittal. The first was the Edmonton Oilers, who need a goaltender and play in Alberta, where Hart was born and raised.
The other was Vegas, which was similarly in need of a goaltender, and on Thursday, they made a move to fill that need. The Golden Knights inked Hart to a PTO on Thursday, with the deal likely structured in a way that the team would not need to take on his full cap hit until he is cleared by the league to play, per reporter Hannah Kirkell.
In response to backlash to the move, Vegas issued the following statement.
Official statement from the Vegas Golden Knights on Carter Hart.
More: https://t.co/7jWN6i0tzr#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/kzvbA2uSlv
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 16, 2025
“Following the reinstatement decision agreed on by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association, goaltender Carter Hart will be joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization,” the statement read. “The Golden Knights are aligned with the process and assessment the NHL and NHLPA made in their decision. We remain committed to the core values that have defined our organization from its inception and expect that our players will continue to meet these standards moving forward.”
NHL Fans Lash Out At Vegas Golden Knights Over Carter Hart Statement
That wasn’t enough for a number of fans, who argued that if you have to put out a statement about a player, then maybe you should not sign said player.
The counter to that is, of course, that the team did not have to put out any statement at all. It could have simply signed Hart and said nothing.
It is also important to note that Hart and company were not found not guilty due to a lack of evidence or the existence of reasonable doubt. Instead, the judge in the case determined that she believed the plaintiff’s case actively lacked credibility.
Of course, whether you agree with that is up to your discretion. But it is a notable distinction. And it may prove to be a large reason why Vegas was comfortable signing Hart.