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Carter Hart has been charged with the Sexual assault by the London, Ontario Police. What does this mean for Hart, will he be back with the Flyers at some point this season, or in the future?
That’s the question of the day, and to be honest his future with the orange and black looks bleak at the moment. It honestly depends on how fast the court proceedings move. It could take days, months, years, for this trial to become complete. There are so many moving parts to this particular case, and not only is there is a press conference scheduled on February 5, 2024 by London Ontario Police in regards to the Hockey Canada incident. But, Carter Hart will have his first court appearance on February 5th, as well. Hart was indeed arrested on January 26, 2024, according to Rick Westhead and charged with one count of sexual assault.
In addition, the Flyers moved Carter Hart to non-roster, to pave the way for a new roster spot. Now Hart will still count against the cap for the Flyers for the rest of the season, this just frees up a roster spot, possibly Owen Tippett returns after the break. The fact of the matter is on the surface this does not look good for Hart, who is an RFA (Restricted Free Agent), to play for the Flyers again at some point this season. The case may not be settled in the court of law until 2026.
Hart’s lawyer says he is innocent, and the allegation is false. Obviously, Hart is committed to fighting this charge, as he has always said he was innocent. The next question is will he have to hand over his passport? Although, he may not be a flight risk, however, this is a very serious charge.
In the end, this will be a long process for Hart, and I just can’t envision him playing again this season. That’s due to the court system, and this case could get complicated. Let’s see how this plays out, but I will bring all the up-to-date news as I receive it.
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