Rumored Expectations For Carter Hart's Next Contract

Carter Hart and the other four players will be eligible to sign in the NHL again on December 1 after missing two years of action. Hart is the most attractive of the bunch for teams to sign as goalies aren't that easy to find, especially after a weak offseason.

There are already many teams rumored to be interested according to Chris Johnston. The goaltender is expected to reach terms on a 2-3 year contract by October 1, but can't register until October 15.

Hart's priority is finding a fresh start, which might mean the Philadelphia Flyers are out of the running to sign him back. He would also like a chance to win and play a meaningful number of games, more likely with a team in the US.

There are two teams in Canada who would have use for Hart, most notably the Edmonton Oilers who are still looking for a goalie upgrade to help them win a Stanley Cup, and to make Connor McDavid satisfied so he will sign for multiple more years. The other team is the Calgary Flames, but Dustin Wolf just signed a big extension and is the clear starter. In Edmonton, Hart's hometown team, he would have a great chance to win and start half of the games in tandem with Stuart Skinner. Calvin Pickard would be pushed out if this was the case. Hart has been a target for the Oilers since well before he got released.

If Hart were to choose a US based team, wants starts, and wants a chance to win, there aren't very many options. The Vegas Golden Knights could be a spot if Adin Hill doesn't play as many games. The Carolina Hurricanes could also be in goalie trouble by the time Hart could sign and he plays in tandem with Pyotr Kochetkov with Frederik Andersen on the shelf. Both of them are Cup contenders, but a dark horse to sign Hart would be the Florida Panthers, who have won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Hart would have to take a lower AAV to fit, but Sergei Bobrovsky could play less in his high 30s after so many games the past three seasons, and it would give the Panthers a path forward if Bobrovsky doesn't re-sign after the season.

Hart will be sought after by more teams than expected, but there are the teams that desperately need him and others who are just seeing if they can pull the signing off and take him off the board.