In a notable decision ahead of Thursday’s game in Philadelphia, Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy announced that Carter Hart will not be in goal for the match against the Flyers. This would have marked Hart’s return to Philadelphia, where he previously spent six seasons before joining Vegas. Instead, Akira Schmid, who recently achieved a shutout against the New Jersey Devils, will take the ice as the starter.
Carter Hart has been in net for the Golden Knights during their past two games, including a closely contested 5-4 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Cassidy indicated that Hart is expected to start again on Saturday in Columbus, which will conclude Vegas’ current road trip.
The decision to rest Hart was not made lightly, as Cassidy acknowledged the goaltender’s competitive nature. “Carter wants to play every game. He’s a very competitive guy,” Cassidy commented. “We discussed coming out, you’d play two out of three this week, and coming out of the Ranger game, he wanted to get right back in the net. So, that led to a decision on Long Island.” The coach emphasized the importance of getting Schmid back on the ice soon after his impressive performance.
Since being reinstated by the NHL on December 1, Hart has played in three games, achieving a record of 2-0-1 and saving 72 of 81 shots, with all three games extending to overtime. At 27 years old, Hart’s journey through the league has been marked by both commendable achievements and serious allegations.
In early 2024, Hart faced a count of sexual assault stemming from accusations linked to an incident involving several players from Canada’s 2018 under-20 World Junior team, which occurred after the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala. After a trial this summer, a judge ruled that prosecutors did not meet the necessary burden of proof, resulting in acquittals for all defendants, including Hart.
Following the reinstatement process introduced by the NHL, Hart joined the Golden Knights on a paid tryout in October and subsequently inked a two-year, $4 million contract with the franchise. Despite having opportunities to return to Philadelphia, Flyers general manager Danny Briere revealed this week that Hart had expressed a desire for a fresh start, ultimately leading to his decision to sign with Vegas after several teams showed interest in his services.
