Insider Reveals 3 Teams Who Have Reached Out To Hart

There seems to be a lot of conflicting reports as to where Carter Hart is interested in playing and where he could end up. It is said that he doesn't want to return to the Philadelphia Flyers or play in Canada, which eliminates a team like the Edmonton Oilers, but both of those teams are some of the only ones who check off the majority of the boxes the goaltender is looking for on a deal to return to the NHL.

Hart is seeking a 2-3 year contract where he will have a chance to win and get enough playing time. If the Oilers aren't that team, then he's missing out. There are only two teams who have gone to the Stanley Cup Final in the past two years and one is desperate for a goalie to help finish the job. It just so happens Hart would be a hometown boy there too.

According to David Pagnotta, "the Flyers, Hurricanes, and Penguins are among the clubs that have reached out. While there's speculation the Oilers are right there, I haven't gotten that sense."

Going back to the Oilers, Stuart Skinner has been saying that he feels great and others have said that he looks much faster and more agile after training hard and losing some weight. A change in the goaltending department and back-to-back Cup losses might have been the kick in the pants needed. That and the search for a different goalie. I wouldn't count the Oilers out with how general manager Stan Bowman has been operating.

As for the Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Pittsburgh Penguins, they are all US-based teams to go along with the narrative that Hart wants to sign in the US. The Flyers just moved on from Ivan Fedotov, but still have Samuel Ersson, the goalie who had to step up and take over the starting role when Hart was let go, as well as newly signed Dan Vladar and prospect Alexei Kolosov. There isn't room, but room could be made for who was once considered the franchise goalie in Philadelphia. The team is on the rise and Hart would be the best option in net.

The Hurricanes might fit everything Hart is rumored to be looking for. Carolina goes deep in the playoffs most years and haven't missed the playoffs under coach Rod Brind'Amour. The goaltending is iffy with Pyotr Kochetkov fit to be a tandem goalie and Frederik Andersen old and always missing time. Hart would solidify the goaltending for the next 2-3 years and the Hurricanes could pay him, but there would be three goalies in the mix early until there's an injury. With less playing time for Andersen, that injury may not come soon enough for Hart to get adequate playing time.

The Penguins are in a spot where they could trade Tristan Jarry as everyone else seems to be on their way out soon enough. Arturs Silovs was acquired this offseason, while the team also has Joel Blomqvist in the system. A tandem of Hart and Silovs could be entertaining and give hope for a quicker turnaround, even though one may not happen without a draft lottery win of Gavin McKenna.

Nothing is confirmed on the Hart front just yet, but Hart's signing will kick off a few dominos around the league in net.