Carter Hart leaves the Philadelphia Flyers citing personal reasons

This just in, Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere has announced that goaltender Carter Hart has left the team for personal reasons. Hart has no timetable for his return.

From the Flyers:

The 25 year old goaltender has 12 wins in 26 starts this season, with a 2.80 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. 

Heading into this season, expectations for Hart were very high. The native of Sherwood Park, Alberta has had five up and down seasons in the NHL and has been on the precipice of 'coming of age' for awhile now. Often as goaltenders mature, they often become more consistent and better equipped to handle the rigors of professional hockey. Teams rely heavily on their netminders to provide stability and make key saves in crucial moments, and Hart was expected to continue developing into that reliable presence for the Flyers.

This season was predicted to be a crucial juncture in Hart's career, with his contract expiring in the 2024 offseason. A strong campaign would potentially solidigy his status as one of the league's top goaltenders. Coaches, fans, and analysts have been watching closely to see how he handles the pressures of the game and whether he can elevate his performance to help lead the Flyers to success.

In terms of statistical performance, one would hope to see improvements in key metrics such as goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage (SV%). These numbers are critical indicators of a goaltender's effectiveness and ability to keep their team competitive. Additionally, the number of shutouts and wins would contribute to assessing Hart's impact on the Flyers' overall success. For Hart, that hasn't really been the case this season. While he hasn't been terrible, he hasn't seen a noticeable increase in play either.

We can only speculate as to the reasons why Hart would be taking a leave of absence from the team, but I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that this kid has had the weight of the world put on his shoulders and that can be a difficult thing to manage.