Carter Hart Returns to NHL Ice with Golden Knights After Nearly Two-Year Absence
LAS VEGAS - Carter Hart is back. And whether you're ready for it or not, so is his NHL career.
After nearly two years away from the league, the 27-year-old goaltender is poised to make his return to NHL action - this time in a Vegas Golden Knights sweater. Hart, who was recently cleared to resume his professional career following a high-profile legal case in Canada, has joined the Golden Knights as they navigate a stretch without starter Adin Hill, who remains sidelined with a groin injury suffered in late October.
Hart’s comeback began with a three-game conditioning stint with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. Now, after completing a full practice with Vegas on Monday at City National Arena, he’s inching closer to NHL game action - potentially as soon as Tuesday night when the Golden Knights wrap up their four-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I feel good,” Hart said after practice. “It was nice to go down to Henderson and get some game action. I’ve just been practicing for the last year and a half, so it was nice to get into a real game and see different scenarios that you can’t replicate in practice.”
Golden Knights Could Lean on Hart Immediately
Head coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t officially name a starter for Tuesday’s game, but Hart looks like a strong candidate. Cassidy emphasized the importance of being physically ready and acknowledged the long layoff Hart is coming back from.
“It’s been a while since he’s played in an NHL game, so we have to take that into account,” Cassidy said. “The goal for him in Henderson was to get some of the rust off his game, and you do that by playing.”
The reports out of Henderson were encouraging. Hart faced a light workload in his first outing, saw more action in the second, and gave up a couple of late goals in the third. But the focus wasn’t on perfection - it was about getting his legs under him again, adjusting to game speed, and preparing for NHL-level competition.
Vegas Goalie Room Gets a Shake-Up
To make room for Hart on the active roster, Vegas reassigned rookie Carl Lindbom to Henderson. Lindbom impressed in his brief NHL stint, even picking up his first career win Saturday in a 4-3 victory over San Jose. But with Hart now in the mix, the Golden Knights opted to go with experience as they prepare for a five-game road trip that begins Friday in New Jersey.
Akira Schmid, who’s carried the bulk of the workload since Hill’s injury, will still be part of the rotation. Cassidy made it clear that both Schmid and Hart will get opportunities.
“We need to be able to keep Akira sharp,” Cassidy said. “Fortunately, the schedule works out that there’ll be opportunities for both of them.”
Hart Focused on Preparation, Ready for the Challenge Ahead
Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Vegas in October. He says he’s physically ready and mentally locked in after a long road back to the NHL.
“It’s nice to be back in the mix with the boys,” he said. “I feel a lot better. Most of my work was done before October, so to be able to have my own net and get some practice time and now to be here and get into a normal routine, it’s huge.”
He knows the challenge ahead - NHL shooters are sharper, the pace is quicker, and the margin for error is thinner. But Hart believes he’s done everything he can to be ready.
“For me, preparation is everything,” he said. “I’ve worked my ass off to get back to this point. I’ve done everything I can to be prepared if I get the call.”
Hart also noted that while the core of his game hasn’t changed, he’s made some adjustments with his coaches - both back home in Edmonton and now in Vegas - to refine the finer points of his technique.
“There’s a few things we’ve worked on, some little details we’ve tightened up,” he said. “We would do this every offseason, but this has been an extended offseason.”
Looking Ahead
If Hart does get the nod Tuesday night, it’ll mark his first NHL start since early 2023 - a long-awaited return for a player who once carried the weight of a franchise in Philadelphia. Now, he’s stepping into a different situation in Vegas, with a strong defensive structure in front of him and a team that knows how to win.
The Golden Knights aren’t asking Hart to be a savior. They just need him to be steady, sharp, and ready to contribute. And after a long and winding road back, Hart says he’s up for the challenge.