September 23, 2025 | 11:28am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

KNIGHTS AMONG TEAMS IN MIX FOR HART

Carter Hart, goaltender

The Vegas Golden Knights are among the teams believed to be in pursuit of unrestricted free agent goaltender Carter Hart, according to multiple reports.

Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod are the five Canadian world junior players found not guilty on sexual assault charges in July and recently. reinstated by the NHL.

Each of the five players are eligible to agree to terms with a new team by Oct. 1, upon which their contracts will be officially filed Oct. 15. They will be able to practice with their teams effective Nov. 15 and can play in NHL games starting Dec. 1.

As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported last week, the Carolina Hurricanes are also in the running for Hart, while Chris Johnston wrote in his Monday article for The Athletic that “one or two other teams” are also involved.

Other teams have inquired, in some form, about Hart’s availability and status, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Utah Mammoth, but are not currently in the mix.

“Some teams that have reached out in some form but are not currently in the mix have either denied it publicly or used the power of the English language to throw the scent off,” Pagnotta wrote in Friday’s column.

Hart is expected to make a final decision prior to Oct. 1. As Pagnotta reported on Thursday, McLeod is set to sign a contract with the Hurricanes.

Hart’s last game in the NHL came on Jan. 20, 2024 before leaving the Flyers due to the legal proceedings related to the WJC trial. In 2023-24, he posted a 12-9-3 record with a 2.80 goals-against-average, a .906 save percentage and one shutout.

Meanwhile, the Knights continue attempts to sign restricted free agent forward Alexander Holtz, who is attending training camp on a PTO.

The Knights will have just over $1.16 million in salary space once Alex Pietrangelo and his $8.8 million cap hit are placed on LTIR before the season officially begins.

Vegas can create up to $3.786 million in cap space by placing the likes of Ben Hutton ($975,000), Akira Schmid ($875,000) and Cole Schwindt ($825,000) on waivers and subsequently sending them down to the AHL if they clear.