The Edmonton Oilers are unlikely to sign Carter Hart to help solidify the goalie position.
Hart, along with four other NHL players, was charged with sexual assault back in January of 2024 for an alleged incident in 2018. The alleged incident happened in London, Ontario, in June, as the players were celebrating winning world junior gold at a Hockey Canada gala.
After months in court, all five players were acquitted and are now eligible to play in the NHL again, come Dec. 1.
With the players now being eligible to return, the focus turned to Hart, who is the most likely of the five to return to the NHL. Hart, who is from Alberta, has been linked to the Oilers. But, NHL insider Chris Johnston reports that Hart has ruled out returning to the Philadelphia Flyers or playing in Canada.
“Per league sources, Hart is expected to reach terms on a contract by Oct. 1, though the contract can’t officially be registered with the NHL until Oct. 15. His top priorities are finding a job with a clear chance to get a meaningful number of starts and playing for a team that can win,” Johnston wrote.
“Hart is looking for a fresh start, which effectively rules out a return to Philadelphia,” Johnston added. “He’s also almost certainly going to land with a U.S.-based team, per league sources. That invalidates any notion of the Sherwood Park, Alta., native landing with his hometown Edmonton Oilers. A popular speculative home among some media and fans. But, in reality not a good fit on either side of the equation.”
Hart was selected 48th overall in 2016 by the Flyers.
Hart Likely to Sign Short-Term Deal
As Johnston reports, Hart is likely to sign and return to the NHL this season.
Given that he hasn’t played since January 2024, he’s going to need a short stint in the AHL. But the insider expects Hart to sign a short-term deal to prove to all the teams he’s still a good starting goalie in the NHL.
“Once Hart chooses his next NHL destination, he’s expected to sign a two- or three-year contract, per league sources,” Johnston wrote. “The two-year term would open up the possibility of an extension as soon as the summer of 2026 if the player and team feel it’s a good match. In the meantime, Hart’s focus is on getting his game back up to an NHL level.
“The terms of the league’s reinstatement allow him a month to practice and get acclimated with his new team — from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 — before he becomes eligible for an American Hockey League conditioning assignment,” Johnston added. “He’ll likely start a handful of games at the AHL level, before returning to an NHL crease in early December.”
Hart is 96-93-29 with a 2.94 GAA and a .906 SV% in his NHL career.
Oilers Confident in Skinner
With Hart unlikely to sign with the Oilers, Edmonton will continue to have Stuart Skinner as its starting goalie.
Skinner has led the Oilers to back-to-back Cup Finals, but he has struggled at times. However, Edmonton’s general manager, Stan Bowman, is confident in Skinner.
“Sometimes change is good. I think a little bit of a different perspective maybe can unlock certain guys. And, I think in our case we’re very optimistic Stuart is going to be able to take that next step,” said Bowman. “He’s still a pretty young goalie as far as the league goes. He’s just coming into the prime years of his career.
“He has shown he certainly has the capability to make big saves and win big games for us,” Bowman added. “What we’re trying to do is maybe bring out the consistency in his game a little bit more. I think his best game is excellent, we saw that in the playoffs last year.”
Skinner is entering the final year of his three-year, $7.8 million deal.
Insider: Oilers Get Bad News on Potential Signing of Recently Acquitted Goalie