The Fan Blog : Eklund: Should Flyers Get First Shot at Carter Hart?

He is a free agent. All teams have “1st” dibs no?

How did the Panarin situation just get swept under the rug? Someone must have gotten paid off big time. Eh what??

The Fan Blog : Eklund: Should Flyers Get First Shot at Carter Hart?
- the_fan_blog

How did the Panarin situation just get swept under the rug? Someone must have gotten paid off big time. Eh what??
- Phillywhiteout

Picture that. A player under a nhl contract with a cba skates with blind eye under morality clause
While a player who at time of an incident wasn’t under a nhl contract or binded under a cba is punished.

It’s so Flyers….they finally get an above average goalie…just coming into his prime…and are forced to cut bait. Last years goaltending was a train wreck…Dan “(frank)ing” Vladar hardly fixes the problem, but now it’s apparent the corporation run Flyers have no interest in bringing him back….and the teams most glaring weakness presses on.

He wouldn’t come back to the Flyers unless he had no other options. If he is reinstated Edmonton makes most sense.

He wouldn’t come back to the Flyers unless he had no other options. If he is reinstated Edmonton makes most sense.
- hfc355

I thought Edmonton would make the most sense too, and then I gave it some thought. I'm not so sure that he would be best served dealing with the circus in Edmonton. All the questions about the court case and then the pressure of trying to bring a Cup to his hometown team. Not sure he is mentally equipped for all that. Would be funny if he actually returned to Philly, but I have serious doubts that it would happen.

He wouldn’t come back to the Flyers unless he had no other options. If he is reinstated Edmonton makes most sense.
- hfc355

He needs a no pressure low key situation. Where hockey is on the back burner so to speak. The scrutiny will be much different if signs with a Canadian team versus a US team. Not even comparable probably.

He will need AHL time to get back on track. He may be best served going to Europe for a year.

He needs a no pressure low key situation. Where hockey is on the back burner so to speak. The scrutiny will be much different if signs with a Canadian team versus a US team. Not even comparable probably.

He will need AHL time to get back on track. He may be best served going to Europe for a year.
- furio16

I was a little surprised he didn't try to play in Europe or Russia while awaiting trial like a few others did.

I feel like no matter where he goes in the NHL there will be a subset of the fanbase who couldn't care less about the ruling. He will always be a rapist in their eyes. He will have to deal with that.

Would I take him back on the Flyers? If he can still be the Carter Hart of old, sure why not?

I was a little surprised he didn't try to play in Europe or Russia while awaiting trial like a few others did.

I feel like no matter where he goes in the NHL there will be a subset of the fanbase who couldn't care less about the ruling. He will always be a rapist in their eyes. He will have to deal with that.

Would I take him back on the Flyers? If he can still be the Carter Hart of old, sure why not?
- MBFlyerfan

Was he allowed to leave the country? For some reason thought I read it somewhere he was not. Could be wrong.

The small portion of the fan base will care and try to make waves. The very small at that. Otherwise will be a non issue after the initial signing and usual regurgitation of what happened. That’s how I see it.

"He wouldn’t come back to the Flyers unless he had no other options. If he is reinstated Edmonton makes most sense."

Why do you say this? Did the Flyers wrong him in any way? What makes you think he would only return to Philly as a last resort?

Was he allowed to leave the country? For some reason thought I read it somewhere he was not. Could be wrong.

The small portion of the fan base will care and try to make waves. The very small at that. Otherwise will be a non issue after the initial signing and usual regurgitation of what happened. That’s how I see it.
- furio16

I am not sure how Comcast will see it.

I am not sure how Comcast will see it.
- MBFlyerfan

They will cater to the .001% who oppose it.

I was a little surprised he didn't try to play in Europe or Russia while awaiting trial like a few others did.

I feel like no matter where he goes in the NHL there will be a subset of the fanbase who couldn't care less about the ruling. He will always be a rapist in their eyes. He will have to deal with that.

Would I take him back on the Flyers? If he can still be the Carter Hart of old, sure why not?
- MBFlyerfan

TBH, I wasn't that impressed with his play prior to the shut down.

I understand there is the possibility that the lawsuit hanging over his head could have negatively affected his play. However, it's also probable that the entire fan base would not welcome him back with open arms causing some unsettledness as well. Not to say this would be right or wrong, but the stigma resulting from his testimony may also affect his game.

Assuming Carter is granted permission to play again, either sooner or later, it may be a wiser avenue to play overseas at first while rehabilitating his image.

"He wouldn’t come back to the Flyers unless he had no other options. If he is reinstated Edmonton makes most sense."

Why do you say this? Did the Flyers wrong him in any way? What makes you think he would only return to Philly as a last resort?
- SgtMikal

No Flyers did no wrong by him but I think the pressure here would be greater and the support may not be here. Plus add that Flyers aren’t a good team and are yrs away from competing.

No Flyers did no wrong by him but I think the pressure here would be greater and the support may not be here. Plus add that Flyers aren’t a good team and are yrs away from competing.
- hfc355

What pressure? Flyers are an afterthought in the city at this time.

TBH, I wasn't that impressed with his play prior to the shut down.

I understand there is the possibility that the lawsuit hanging over his head could have negatively affected his play. However, it's also probable that the entire fan base would not welcome him back with open arms causing some unsettledness as well. Not to say this would be right or wrong, but the stigma resulting from his testimony may also affect his game.

Assuming Carter is granted permission to play again, either sooner or later, it may be a wiser avenue to play overseas at first while rehabilitating his image.
- 77rams

After the charges came I made the connection between his play and what was happening almost immediately. The scuttlebutt seemed to be he was going through something mentally not physically.

Granted, I made my own connection but it seemed to make sense. The whole thing had been hanging over his head for close to 6 years. First , the event itself, second the coverup and payout by Hockey Canada. Third, the rehashing of the event years later after the press got hold of it. Fourth, the announcement that players where involved from the team he played for, 5th the pending charges, then the public outing. Innocent or not, that kind of thing will wreck you mentally. Just the anticipation that your whole life may be over, your career, your reputation. It couldn't have been easy for him.

I also remember it was said he was having trouble during the lockdown, when he was home by himself left to stew on all this.

As a human being I can almost guarantee it affected his play and mental fortitude.

Hart plays the worst position in the NHL for dealing with stress. The average fwd sends << 5 shots a game? If he connects on 1, it is a great night. 20% success rate is tremendous. The avg goalie faces 30 shots/game or so? Needs to be over 90% successful to escape wrath.

If I were in Hart's team, I would counsel the following. Reiterate innocence, express regret at trauma for all parties, for personal immaturity, and then, go volunteer in a rape crisis center for a decent period of time. Put in hard work, for real. That will win over a lot of people and the short term penance will yield long term benefits for his psyche and thus probably his game.

After the charges came I made the connection between his play and what was happening almost immediately. The scuttlebutt seemed to be he was going through something mentally not physically.

Granted, I made my own connection but it seemed to make sense. The whole thing had been hanging over his head for close to 6 years. First , the event itself, second the coverup and payout by Hockey Canada. Third, the rehashing of the event years later after the press got hold of it. Fourth, the announcement that players where involved from the team he played for, 5th the pending charges, then the public outing. Innocent or not, that kind of thing will wreck you mentally. Just the anticipation that your whole life may be over, your career, your reputation. It couldn't have been easy for him.

I also remember it was said he was having trouble during the lockdown, when he was home by himself left to stew on all this.

As a human being I can almost guarantee it affected his play and mental fortitude.
- MBFlyerfan

I don't doubt it.

Now does Carter feel the verdict totally exonerated him and does he believe he can resume his career without any further distractions, i.e., public disfavor? If not, the question would be will those distractions similarly affect his play?

No matter what Hart would do to “rehabilitate” his image you will always have a segment for and against him. That won’t significantly change.

He committed no crime. Time to move on.

No matter what Hart would do to “rehabilitate” his image you will always have a segment for and against him. That won’t significantly change.

He committed no crime. Time to move on.
- furio16

The issue is to minimize the size of those segments. There are always going to be people on the fringes, projecting their own grievances onto every single public matter.

But aiming for the reasonable middle 60% or so might get them if not on his side, to a position that is at least sympathetic to him. This might relieve the pressure, etc.

I was a little surprised he didn't try to play in Europe or Russia while awaiting trial like a few others did.

I feel like no matter where he goes in the NHL there will be a subset of the fanbase who couldn't care less about the ruling. He will always be a rapist in their eyes. He will have to deal with that.

Would I take him back on the Flyers? If he can still be the Carter Hart of old, sure why not?
- MBFlyerfan

I would take him back. What he does next as an athlete and as a man will tell the story. With all the information that is available he deserves that opportunity.

If they are reinstated, I think the team that each of them last played for should have first dibs on signing them. Why should the team lose an asset for nothing?