When the Vegas Golden Knights signed Carter Hart to a two-year, $4 million deal, it looked like a classic Vegas move-low risk, potentially high reward. The team saw a chance to bring in a once-promising goaltender who was looking to reset his career after a long layoff.
After nearly two years out of the NHL and freshly acquitted in the Hockey Canada trial, Hart was aiming for a clean slate. And in typical Golden Knights fashion, the front office wasn’t overly concerned with optics-they were focused on finding stability in the crease.
But now, midway through the season, it’s not Hart’s off-ice history that’s raising eyebrows. It’s what’s happening between the pipes.
Hart’s debut wasn’t bad. He stopped 27 of 30 shots in a 4-3 shootout win over the Blackhawks, and for a moment, it looked like Vegas might’ve struck gold again with a reclamation project.
But the early optimism didn’t last. Through 12 starts, Hart’s numbers have taken a steep dive-he’s posted a 5-3-3 record, a 3.28 goals-against average, and a .871 save percentage.
For a team with playoff aspirations, those numbers just don’t cut it.
To put it in perspective: Hart has allowed 36 goals on 279 shots. That’s well below league average, and a far cry from the .904 save percentage he carried earlier in his career. At this point, expecting him to bounce back to that level feels like wishful thinking more than a realistic projection.
And that’s a problem for Vegas.
This is a team built to contend. When healthy, their forward depth is among the league’s best, and their top-four defensemen can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
But goaltending? That’s where the cracks are showing.
If Akira Schmid and Adin Hill can’t steady the ship-and if Hart doesn’t return from the Olympic break with a serious uptick in form-Vegas may have no choice but to explore the trade market for a more reliable option in net.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Hart. A rough December stretch saw him give up 16 goals on 94 shots over four games.
That’s the kind of skid that erodes trust quickly, especially on a team that’s used to winning. Then came the lower-body injury-initially labeled week-to-week, but later landing him on injured reserve.
It’s fair to wonder how much the team can count on him moving forward, both in terms of health and performance.
If Vegas does go shopping for a goalie before the deadline, Hart’s role could shrink in a hurry. The Golden Knights aren’t shy about moving on from contracts that no longer serve them, and what once looked like a potential comeback story may end up being just a short chapter.
The next few weeks will be telling. If Hart can return from the break and deliver some strong performances, he might still have a shot to solidify his place in the crease. But if the front office makes a move before then, the writing could already be on the wall.
For now, the puck is in Hart’s crease. What he does with it could determine not just his future in Vegas, but whether the Golden Knights double down or reshuffle the deck at the deadline.