2 Teams Linked To Free Agent Carter Hart

Carter Hart is going to be a hot commodity for teams looking for a potential starter or tandem goalie for the next 2-3 years. That is the term he is reportedly looking for to get back into action in the NHL while also having a chance to win and compete for playing time. Following Chris Johnston's report, Michael Russo added that there are two teams in the West that are eyeing Hart, the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth.

I had previously looked at Vegas as a team that should be looking at a third goaltender with seemingly just Adin Hill as the go-to in net. They have an untested Akira Schmid who appears to be primed to step into the backup role this season, but for a Stanley Cup contender, that is a risky move when the third string goalie is a 22-year-old prospect who hasn't played an NHL game in Carl Lindbom.

What the Golden Knights have working for them is that it is a place that can win and has recently. The team continues to make necessary moves in order to have the best shot at going deep in the playoffs year after year. And now with Alex Pietrangelo injured, Mitch Marner brought in, and cap space to space, Hart can get a little more more than with another potential Cup contender.

The Mammoth are an interesting one. If they are eyeing Hart, then there might not be as much confidence in Karel Vejmelka as initially thought. But, on the other hand, he played far too much last season, especially down the stretch, regardless of how well he did. That will wear any goalie down and the play will start to become affected. As a team hoping to get into the playoffs after some nice moves and young players developing quickly, a tandem of Vejmelka and Hart would be excellent. One of them would give the team a chance to win every night.

Utah also has plenty of cap space to sign Hart with no worry of approaching the cap and still having room left over to add at the trade deadline. This would mean that one of Connor Ingram or Vitek Vanecek would be dealt. The team already has Jaxson Stauber and Matt Villalta in the minors, who both appeared in the NHL last season by the way, so the position would be far too crammed. Ingram, Vanecek, or both could go. They won't be needed anymore if Hart is signed.

There will be more teams reportedly interested in Hart in the coming days and weeks before he can sign and his decision could be a real game changer.