NHL Rumors: Carter Hart Signing Seems Imminent; Insider Projects Contract

Carter Hart, NHL goaltender sits on bench watching the action

The Vegas Golden Knights have long been linked to the signing of free agent goaltender Carter Hart in recent weeks. Is today the day? According to insider Frank Seravalli, it just might be. Not only did Vegas starter Adin Hill sustain an injury Tuesday night, but today, October 15th, happens to be the day that Hart and the other acquitted players from the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial can officially sign with an NHL team.

I think the 'probable' landing spot just got a lot more 'probable'... Today, Oct. 15th is the first date he's eligible to sign... If Carter Hart does sign in Vegas, I expect it to be a two-year deal, and I expect it to be for a bit north of the league minimum salary... in the $2 million-ish range (annually)... Then he'd be eligible to sign an extension as of July 1st.

Hill left Tuesday's game after taking a shot off the mask and didn't return for the second period. The team later said he had a lower-body injury.

slow mo of adin's injury.

this could be serious.#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/v0CNLPUn6P
— Honest VGK Fan (@HonestVGKfan) October 15, 2025

Hill actually made a save without his mask, jumping up awkwardly. He did stay in the game for a few minutes to finish the period. Backup netminder Akira Schmid took over from there, and will likely be the starter for now. He stopped all 19 shots in relief.

But as Seravalli notes, if Adin Hill is out for a significant period, signing Hart even as early as today doesn't solve the Golden Knights' problem between the pipes for the near future. "It's going to take six weeks for him to get back into NHL game shape," says Seravalli. And besides, Hart isn't eligible to actually take part in an NHL game until December 1st.

Hart last played in the league for the Philadelphia Flyers in early 2024, at which point he went on a leave due to the charges that were to follow. He and his four former 2018 World Junior Canadian teammates were acquitted of charges this summer.

Hart has a career .906 save percentage in 227 games with a 2.94 goals against average. But as Seravalli notes, Carter should have much better numbers with a team like Vegas, rather than the Flyers, in front of him.