Carter Hart's Return Date to NHL Is Set, Activated by Vegas Golden Knights

Carter Hart, Vegas Golden Knights goalie, on the bench while with the Philadelphia Flyer

The Carter Hart Era in Vegas is set to begin this week, as the Golden Knights have recalled him from his conditioning stint in the minors. He is likely going to make his NHL return on Tuesday night.

Per sources, I’m told G Carter Hart is likely to make his debut start and return to @NHL action with @GoldenKnights this coming Tuesday night. #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/hEEOuNcFwq
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) December 1, 2025

When the NHL reinstated the five acquitted Hockey Canada players after a sexual assault trial this past summer, December 1st was pegged as the date they could officially return to league action. In the meantime, Hart has been playing his first pro hockey games in nearly two years with Henderson in the AHL on a conditioning stint. He clearly isn't back up to his top form, however, as he went 1-2-0 with an .839 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average in three games played on the farm.

But Hart has enough of a resume in the NHL from his first 5 1/2 years with the Philadelphia Flyers, when he registered a .906 Sv% and 2.94 goals against average. The Golden Knights have confidence that he'll return to that form, and that journey will apparently begin with his first start on Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, at home in Vegas.

Carter Hart's debut set: he should help Vegas's below-league-average goal prevention

The Knights are currently in third place in the Pacific Division with an 11-6-8 record, but rank 24th in the league in Sv% at .888 and 15th in goals against per game, at 2.96, behind Akira Schmid and Carl Lindbom. The latter has now been assigned to the AHL.

Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Golden Knights in October, and has been readying for his return since then. He last played a game in the NHL on January 20, 2024—a game, by the way, in which he was pulled after two periods by the Flyers, having surrendered five goals on 15 shots against the Colorado Avalanche.

On Tuesday, Hart is ready to put that, and the 22 months that came after it, behind him.