Carter Hart signs with Vegas Golden Knights weeks after being cleared in 2018 Canada sexual assault case

Carter Hart has signed a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. The team announced it on Thursday, just a month after Hart was acquitted of sexual assault charges. He became the first of the five former Hockey Canada players cleared in the 2018 case to return to the NHL. The deal details were not shared by the team. The 27-year-old goalie will be allowed to play starting December 1, 2025, under the NHL’s reinstatement rules.

This marks his first NHL contract since leaving the Philadelphia Flyers last year.

Carter Hart begins fresh NHL journey with Vegas Golden Knights after acquittal

Carter Hart’s new deal with Vegas is a professional tryout contract. It allows him to train with the team before signing a full deal. The Golden Knights said they support the process the NHL and NHLPA followed. The team said they believe in second chances but also expect players to live up to the club’s values. Coach Bruce Cassidy said Hart will need time to get back into game shape.

The team plans to evaluate his progress before deciding his long-term role. Hart said he wants to focus on hockey again and rebuild trust with fans and teammates.

Michael McLeod, another acquitted player, signed a three-year deal with a KHL team in Russia. Alex Formenton is playing in Switzerland. Dillon Dube and Cal Foote have not signed anywhere yet. Carter Hart’s move to Vegas gives him a clean slate. After months of court hearings and public scrutiny, this is his chance to restart his NHL career and prove himself again on the ice.

Carter Hart and four former Hockey Canada players cleared in 2018 case

Hart played six seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers before leaving in early 2024. He and four former teammates, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton, were charged in 2024 for an alleged sexual assault in London, Ontario. The incident reportedly took place in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada gala and golf event.

In July 2025, an Ontario court ruled the five players not guilty. Justice Maria Carroccia said the evidence was not strong enough to prove the accusations.

The judge said the complainant’s testimony did not meet the standard of proof required for conviction. She also said the evidence showed consent was present in the case. The complainant, known as E.M., told the court she was scared and drunk when the players came to her hotel room. But the defense said she joined them willingly that night. Also Read: League Bans Referee After Missed Goal Call During Match: Why Are KHL Referees More Vulnerable To Bans Than NHL?The NHL called the 2018 events “deeply troubling.” The league said even though the players were found not guilty, their behavior did not meet the standards of moral integrity. The NHL and NHLPA created a reinstatement plan allowing them to return to the league only after December 1, 2025.