Carter Hart's Road Back to the NHL Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Some new information was announced last week regarding the potential return of Canadian goaltender Carter Hart to the National Hockey League.
Sunday marks a month since a judge in London, Ontario found all five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team not guilty on charges they were facing, opening the door to a return to professional hockey at some point in the near future.
The Crown had 30 days to launch an appeal to the Court of Appeal for Ontario, if they wished, but according to TSN's Rick Westhead, citing information from the lawyers of one of the five players, they decided not to and essentially now, the case is closed.
"Daniel Brown, a lawyer for 2018 player Alex Formenton, told TSN that he was notified of the decision by an official with the Office of the Attorney General of Ontario on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General didn't return a request for comment." Westhead said.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General didn't return a request for comment." Westhead said.
Could goaltender Carter Hart find NHL home for 2025-26 season?
As things stand today, August 24th, the National Hockey League still deems all five players ineligible for a potential return, saying that they will review the judge's findings before making their own decision, which is something that didn't sit well with the NHLPA, who believe they should have the right to play.
"Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were acquitted of all charges by Justice Carroccia of the Ontario Superior Court. After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work. The NHL's declaration that the Players are 'ineligible' to play pending its further analysis of the Court's findings is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA. We are addressing this dispute with the League and will have no further comment at this time." the NHLPA said.
Shortly before the verdict was announced last month, Eric Macramalla, who is a legal analyst for TSN and Forbes, said that he believes Carter Hart will return to the National Hockey League.
"Carter Hart will play in the NHL. I have no doubt at all. He will be acquitted, which sets the stage for a return." Macramalla said.
While Carter Hart is probably the most likely of the five players to eventually land a new job in the National Hockey League, it's going to be quite some time before he's back on the ice.
First, Hart will need to be cleared by the National Hockey League, which is far from a guarantee based on their comments last month, and then he'll have to ramp back up because he hasn't seen any game action since January 20th, 2024.
Hart will likely have to begin in the AHL, get several games under his belt before he eventually returns to the crease in the National Hockey League and at this point, with training camp right around the corner and him not being eligible to sign a contract, it may not happen until later on in the 2025-26 campaign or even next summer possibly, it's too early to say.
Source: Habs Fanatics
New Development Emerges on Carter Hart's Potential NHL Return
New Development Emerges on Carter Hart's Potential NHL Return
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AOUT 24 | 1769 ANSWERS Carter Hart's Road Back to the NHL Just Got A Lot More Interesting Will Carter Hart be signed by an NHL team at some point during the 2025-26 season? | ||
| Yes | 1160 | 65.6 % |
| No | 609 | 34.4 % |
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