The Vegas Golden Knights have signed goaltender Carter Hart to a PTO, months after his acquittal in a 2018 sexual assault case. Star forward Jack Eichel defended the move, praising Hart’s character and the team’s culture. However, insider Elliotte Friedman criticized the Golden Knights’ management for a lack of transparency in the announcement. The Vegas Golden Knights have found themselves at the center of heated debate after announcing that goaltender Carter Hart has joined the team on a professional tryout contract (PTO). The move comes months after Hart was acquitted in a 2018 sexual assault case connected to members of Canada’s World Junior team, a legal ordeal that has kept his hockey future uncertain until now.
Jack Eichel defends the signing, praising Hart’s character and team culture
While the announcement stirred strong reactions across the league, inside the Golden Knights locker room, the tone was notably more supportive. Jack Eichel, the team’s star forward, spoke candidly about Hart’s arrival and expressed confidence in his new teammate’s integrity.“When you speak to people who know Carter [Hart], they have a lot of good things to say about his character and who he is as a person,” Eichel said via insider Hannah Kirkell. “We’re really looking forward to having him and moving forward.”Eichel also praised Vegas’ organizational culture, emphasizing the strength of their locker room in handling sensitive transitions. “I think it’s great,” he added via SinBinVegas. “We have a great group of people in here and culture stemming from ownership and our entire organization. We are looking forward to having him.”For Hart, the opportunity represents a fresh start after a turbulent few years. “I’ve thought about it a lot with my family, my agent,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of great things from players that have played here in the past… It was very intriguing for me, and I was just looking for a fresh start.”
Elliotte Friedman calls out Golden Knights management for lack of transparency
Not everyone in the NHL world applauded the move. Insider Elliotte Friedman criticized the Golden Knights for how they handled the announcement, suggesting that team executives should have addressed the media directly instead of leaving the players to answer difficult questions.“On the day you sign the player, it’s the people who make that decision who should be front and center,” Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast.Also Read: What happened to NHL reporter Anna Dua during the Rangers-Maple Leafs game that left fans laughing onlineAs Hart begins his redemption arc in Vegas, the Golden Knights are once again walking a fine line, balancing their reputation as a tight-knit organization with the public scrutiny that comes with giving a controversial player a second chance.