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Eklund: Should Flyers Get First Shot at Carter Hart? |
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Now that the “Not Guilty” ruling is official, the teams are waiting while theNHL is considering whether or not to reinstate the players involved in the Hockey Canada case… I don’t expect an answer for another 20+ days as the Crown in Canada has the ability to appeal the decision. The NHL is not a league that likes to make bold moves when it could possibly be right back where it started from.
I am told that it doesn’t necessarily mean these players will remain in limbo if the crown appeals… they are free people right now and are allowed to do what they can do. NHL does have strong morality clauses in their contracts, however, as the NHLPA has come out and said the ruling they came down last week put these players in the clear…legally.
Enough legal stuff….
One of the questions I get more than any other right now is, “Don’t the Flyers have the first chance to sign him?”
The answer, right now, is… No…. And here is why…
Recapping how we got here..
In February 2024, Carter Hart (along with four other players) were charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault incident from June 2018 involving members of Canada’s World Junior Team. At that point, the Flyers said Carter Hart was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team. Were that all that happened the Flyers would still retain Hart’s rights…However… The Flyers “chose” not to qualify him as a restricted free agent in June 2024….
Which made him an unrestricted free agent… the Flyers were relinquished all rights.
However, did the flyers have a choice actually? Can you even qualify an ineligible player?
Here’s where there could be a gray area…
As of this writing, there is no info from the Flyers on Carter Hart. Considering this goalie was really the cornerstone of their future when he signed I find it hard to believe that behind the scenes there aren’t discussions going on.
However, understand that the NHL has made these players ineligible, so of course the Flyers are not going to be able to discuss bringing him back. As of now, the official word has to be Hart is a non-factor for a team that’s getting its ducks in a row right now for the 25-26 season.
Behind the scenes, I have a feeling this is a lot different. There are precedents here. The NHL has reinstated players after situations like this before…. He players and coaches who were found guilty…. Those players were UFAs when they returned…
I can’t imagine behind the scenes the teams connected to these players aren’t trying to broker some kind of deal that gets the rights back for these players… even if they don’t want to re-sign these players, their rights have value….
The final chapter has definitely not been written when it comes to Carter Hart and the Philadelphia Flyers.
What say you?
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