8 Teams Eliminated As Carter Hart Destinations

Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers goalie, looks on from bench

Now that Ivan Fedotov has been traded by the Philadelphia Flyers, one might think that the team is primed to bring back their former No. 1 goalie Carter Hart. He, along with the other four acquitted former Team Canada World Junior Team members, have been given the green light to return to NHL play as of Dec. 1st. They can sign contracts as of Oct. 15th.

But a return to Philly doesn't seem to be in the cards for Hart. According to insider Chris Johnston in The Athletic, he says that while "sources indicate that there are multiple clubs with interest," there are eight teams which Hart will most certainly not be signing with:

Hart is looking for a fresh start, which effectively rules out a return to Philadelphia.
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.

Carter Hart has no interest in signing with Canadian team

That U.S.-based destination would also rule out the rest of the Canadian teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks. As it so happens, all of those clubs are set between the pipes for the foreseeable future, and Hart would not be a fit anyway.

With Ilya Samsonov and James Reimer the only other free agent goalies at this point, Hart will certainly be in demand, as he stands above either of them in talent and potential.

Johnston says that Hart's top priorities are finding a team that can promise him a significant role and a chance to win.

Unlike the other 'Hockey Canada Five,' Hart did not play in Europe or elsewhere after their NHL exile in early 2024, so he hasn't played in a game for real since Jan. 20th of that year.

Per the terms of the NHL/NHLPA agreement on this subject, Hart (and/or any of the other four acquitted players who sign a contract) will be eligible for an AHL assignment as of Nov. 15, giving a couple of weeks to ramp up before being NHL-ready.