Photo Credit, Kyle Ross, USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Flyers are headed into a desperately needed All-Star break on a five game losing streak with a 5-5-0 record over their last 10 games. Overshadowing the Flyers on ice woes at this moment is news that directly relates to Carter Hart and four other members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team.
On Tuesday TSN’s Rick Westhead reported that Carter Hart along with Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote were directed to surrender to London police as they were set to be charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident that took place during a 2018 Hockey Canada event.
From that point forward all four players’ legal representation released statements on their behalves confirming their Client’s had been charged along with claims of innocence.
Specifically, Carter Hart’s legal representation Savard Foy LLP put out the following statement regarding the charges that were laid here.
“We act for Carter Hart and confirm he has been charged with one count of sexual assault. He is innocent and will provide a full response to this false allegation in the proper forum, a court of law. Until then, we have no comment.”
Moving forward it’s likely all four players will be unable to compete for their respective NHL franchises. Considering a trial might not take place until 2026 according to Rick Westhead, the way these players’ contracts are handled will be another facet to monitor in this situation.
In an Athletic article from Chris Johnston and Ian Mendes, the two broke down what exactly the NHL can do when a player is charged with a crime.
Most notably, the NHL commissioner has the ability to terminate a contract, suspend a player, or issue a fine for off-ice misconduct as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Due to that and the fact the NHL has stepped in and taken similar action before with Slava Voynov in 2014 (Voynov was initially suspended with pay by the NHL and had his contract terminated by the LA Kings after he was charged with domestic violence) there’s no telling what the league and the team’s involved might eventually do in this situation.
However, it’s not out of the question to think the NHL won’t take action as they previously took with Voynov’s domestic violence charge in relation to the sexual assault charges against these four players.
One can assume with the heinous crime Hart, Dube, Foote and McLeod were charged with, the NHL would like to distance themselves from these individuals as the remainder of the legal process continues to play out.
There’s likely to be more details that come to the forefront in terms of news surrounding this story in the coming days. A press conference was scheduled by the London, Ontario police department for February 5th. Further updates regarding the case will be made then.
From a Flyers perspective, Carter Hart is under contract with Philadelphia for the remainder of the 2023-24 season before becoming a Restricted Free Agent.
Once Hart’s contract expires after this season the Flyers would need to tender a qualifying offer to Hart that matches the value of a one-year $4.479 million dollar contract to maintain the negotiation rights that come with a player being an RFA.
When taking into consideration the sexual assault charge brought forth against Hart it wouldn’t not be surprising to see the Philadelphia Flyers cut ties with the netminder this upcoming off-season.
In order to do so the Flyers may simply non-tender Hart in the off-season which would effectively make him an unrestricted free agent with no association to the Flyers organization any longer.
It’s evident Daniel Briere and the Flyers are looking to re-establish the culture of the franchise. With that being said, having an individual associated with the team that may have committed such a terrible act is certainly not what the front office is looking for in the character of a person they want to have around in the locker room moving ahead.
Carter Hart will continue to remain on an indefinite leave of absence from the Flyers throughout the remainder of the 2023-24 NHL season and as this case unfolds.
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