October 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nHart said he and his agent spoke to \u201ca few teams,\u201d but he ultimately decided to sign with the Golden Knights organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard nothing but great things about the city, the community, the fan base, the organization, and I got to meet a lot of people here today,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m so excited to get the chance to play in front of them, and for them, and just get to show the community my true character, who I really am and what I\u2019m about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked how he plans on demonstrating that, Hart replied, \u201cI\u2019ve done a lot in the community in Philadelphia. I loved my time there. The younger generation of athletes and hockey players, and my community back home, everybody knows. For me, that way, just being involved in the community, doing what I can, help younger players, teach younger athletes and just be a helping hand in the community, and do what I can to show who I really am.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said there are no specific plans for his community outreach at the time, but \u201cThat will be up for discussion later on with the staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the details on the ice, Hart will practice with the Golden Knights on a professional tryout agreement, which is expected to convert into an NHL contract at some point. He isn\u2019t eligible to play an NHL game until Dec. 1, but can practice immediately and will be eligible to play in conditioning games in the American Hockey League beginning on Nov. 15.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be with us,\u201d Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019ll be with us every day, or when we go on the road. I expect him to be here with us this week. He hasn\u2019t played in a while. He needs some work. I think he would be the first to acknowledge that.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of Thursday, it had been 635 days since Hart\u2019s last NHL action.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a normal summer of training with everybody back home in Edmonton,\u201d Hart explained. \u201cWe got a good group of guys there. The past month, everybody\u2019s been gone, so I\u2019ve just been skating with my goalie coach back home, and there are a few shooters kind of hanging around. I\u2019ve been doing everything I can to stay ready and stay prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, he will be around the team as he prepares for Dec. 1. He met several of his new teammates for the first time on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think just being around here with the guys, getting to know them and the organization on a day-to-day basis,\u201d Hart said. \u201cShowing them that I\u2019m here to help them win and compete alongside them, work alongside them. That\u2019s really important, and that\u2019s one thing that I\u2019ve missed a lot over the past year and a half, is the team element and being around the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said the front office \u201cput a lot of time and effort\u201d into the decision to sign Hart, and that, \u201cWe talked with everybody here. We all talked about it today, and we saw Carter here today for the first time. We\u2019re happy to have him here, and we\u2019re happy to welcome him to our team, to our family, and incorporate him into the culture that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack Eichel said he met Hart for the first time on Thursday and that he\u2019s looking forward to having him join the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here for him,\u201d Eichel said. \u201cWe\u2019re a big family and we support each other. That\u2019s the big thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hart, 27, was a second-round pick by Philadelphia in 2016. He played in 227 games for the Flyers, with a record of 96-93-29, and he has a career save percentage of .906 and a minus-11.92 goals saved above expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody has been very supportive,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long road. I\u2019m so grateful and humbled to be standing here today in Las Vegas with the Golden Knights. I\u2019ve learned a lot along the way, I\u2019ve grown a lot, and I just can\u2019t wait to get going and play some hockey here.\u201d<\/p>\n