Latest details on Carter Hart targeted as potential acquisition by KHL club

Earlier this week, reports from Pavel Lysenkov of Match.tv in Russia emerged that goaltender Carter Hart could be getting close to signing a contract in order to return to professional hockey despite his ongoing legal situation. As you know, Hart was removed from the roster of the Philadelphia Flyers after it came to light that he was among the players accused of sexual assault during the 2018 World Junior Championship; the other players are Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Michael McLeod. They have each been charged with one count of sexual assault following an incident at a hotel in London, Ontario, in June 2018. They’re all on indefinite leaves of absence from their NHL clubs and are awaiting a trial date.
It did not stop those rumours from pointing to the KHL team AK Bars Kazan that were said to be looking to sign Hart and even mentioned how all five players could get a shot at a career in the KHL. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman put an end to the chatter and debunked the report, saying that Hart has not spoken to any teams and signing with Ak Bars Kazan is not happening.

Friedman was not the only insider to put a halt to the report supposedly out of Russia. Josh Bailey of Philly Hockey Now also doesn’t believe the Russian report passes the smell test and wrote:

“Asking a Canadian court to grant permission for a player facing a serious charge to leave the country for a nation on which Canada has imposed 153 sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine makes the prospect of Hart playing in Russia before his trial wildly unrealistic.”

Neither Hart, his representation, nor his legal representation have commented on the rumour.

Hart will become a restricted free agent following this season. No one expects him to be signed anyway seeing that he is not allowed to leave Canada and is awaiting trial.

Prior to his leave of absence, Hart complied a record of 12-9-3 with a goals against average of 2.80 and save percentage of .906 with a single shutout. He owns a 96-93-29 record with a 2.94 goals against average, .906 save percentage and six shutouts.

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