The future of Carter Hart in the National Hockey League has been shrouded in uncertainty for over a year, but a sudden development has reignited conversations across the hockey world. According to a major update from a TSN legal analyst, Hart may be inching closer to a potential return to NHL action—sending shockwaves throughout the league and thrusting the Edmonton Oilers into the center of speculation. The once-shelved career of the talented netminder has now become a point of renewed intrigue, with both legal proceedings and franchise strategies seemingly converging in a way that could alter the course of the upcoming NHL season.
Carter Hart was once viewed as the cornerstone goaltender of the Philadelphia Flyers. A prodigious talent, his early career promised a revival of the long-suffering Flyers crease woes. But everything took a dramatic turn when he was implicated in an ongoing investigation tied to allegations stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada World Junior team. In January 2024, Hart and four other players were charged with sexual assault in connection to an incident that allegedly took place in London, Ontario, in June 2018. Following the charges, Hart voluntarily stepped away from the Flyers and the NHL, and the organization placed him on indefinite leave. Legal proceedings quickly took over his public narrative, and questions about his return to hockey were drowned out by court dates, procedural updates, and the heavy weight of public scrutiny.
Now, however, TSN’s lead legal analyst has issued an important update suggesting that Hart’s legal situation may be on the verge of a substantial shift. In a televised segment, the analyst indicated that new developments in the legal process may be moving in Hart’s favor. While exact details remain sealed due to the sensitive nature of the case, sources suggest that Hart’s legal team is negotiating terms that could result in a reduced set of charges—or in the most optimistic scenarios, a potential dismissal if certain criteria are met. This update does not signal innocence or guilt but instead points to a pivotal moment in the legal arc where the future of Hart’s professional career could become clearer.
The timing of the update is particularly important. NHL teams are already looking ahead to training camps and preseason evaluations, and the need for goaltending depth is more critical than ever. The Edmonton Oilers, who are coming off yet another heartbreak in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup, have emerged as a surprising name in connection to Hart. Although the Oilers boast a formidable offensive lineup led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, their goaltending has long been seen as their Achilles’ heel. Despite the emergence of Stuart Skinner and a few strong performances from veteran backups, inconsistency between the pipes has repeatedly undermined their postseason hopes.
Insiders now believe that Edmonton could be the perfect environment for a reclamation arc—if, and only if, the legal dust surrounding Hart begins to settle. General Manager Ken Holland is reportedly exploring all possible options to shore up the team’s goaltending unit for the 2025-2026 campaign. Though no official contact has been confirmed, league insiders believe that preliminary inquiries have been made behind closed doors regarding Hart’s status and whether he would be eligible for conditional signing pending league clearance.
The NHL, for its part, remains cautious. Commissioner Gary Bettman has reiterated in the past that the league will follow due process and will not take action until legal matters are concluded. The NHL has also cooperated with Hockey Canada’s independent review board and has made clear that any potential return by implicated players would be subject to thorough vetting by the league’s disciplinary arm. That said, the new TSN report has set off a flurry of internal discussions in NHL front offices. If the legal pathway clears, and if the league allows Hart to apply for reinstatement, the Oilers may be one of the first teams in line to evaluate his fit.
What makes this potential link so fascinating is not just the Oilers’ need for stability in goal, but also Hart’s background. The 25-year-old netminder had shown moments of brilliance in Philadelphia despite playing behind a struggling and often porous defense. With a career save percentage hovering around .906 and flashes of elite-level athleticism, Hart’s profile still resonates with many scouts as one of untapped potential. A fresh start, particularly with a team like Edmonton that’s on the cusp of championship contention, could be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Of course, this entire conversation exists in a highly charged ethical space. Not everyone in the hockey community is on board with Hart’s potential return. The social media landscape has already begun to fracture, with many fans arguing that any return to the ice would be premature or inappropriate unless total exoneration occurs. Others point to the principle of due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty as reasons not to prematurely shut the door on Hart’s future. These opposing viewpoints have created a volatile narrative around the situation, with each new legal development adding further fuel to the fire.
For Edmonton, any attempt to bring Hart into the fold would not just be a hockey decision—it would be a public relations calculation of the highest order. The team has generally maintained a low profile when it comes to controversial player decisions, focusing instead on their on-ice performance and community engagement. Bringing in a player with legal baggage—even one potentially cleared—would mark a major departure from their traditional approach and would require clear, transparent communication with fans, media, and league officials.
What makes the potential story arc so gripping is the dichotomy at its core: a young goaltender whose career was once considered destined for greatness, juxtaposed against the heavy legal and moral weight of the allegations he’s tied to. Even if Hart is cleared and the NHL reinstates him, the road to rehabilitation in the public eye would be a long and complex journey. In many ways, this reflects broader tensions within professional sports about accountability, redemption, and the intersection of law and athletics.
One hypothetical scenario gaining traction is that Hart could sign a professional tryout (PTO) with a team like the Oilers, allowing him to compete for a roster spot in training camp without an official contract. This approach would offer some level of flexibility for both the player and the team. It would also signal a trial period—both in performance and public reaction—before making any full-time commitment. Again, all of this is speculative, but it highlights just how fast momentum can shift in the NHL based on legal updates and team needs.
Adding to the intrigue is the broader context of the Oilers’ current goaltending landscape. With Jack Campbell struggling and Stuart Skinner still developing, there is a vacuum of certainty in Edmonton’s crease. The organization knows that McDavid and Draisaitl’s championship window won’t last forever, and management is under pressure to deliver results now—not five years down the line. If Hart represents a calculated risk that could yield high reward, it’s not hard to see why the Oilers might explore the possibility with seriousness.
As for Hart, any return to the NHL would also require personal resilience and professional discipline. Re-entering the NHL spotlight after such a public and sensitive legal battle would be psychologically taxing. The scrutiny would be intense, the margin for error minimal. Yet, for athletes, redemption arcs are as old as sports themselves. The narrative of “fall from grace” followed by “return to form” is one that the hockey world has seen before, though rarely with stakes this high or circumstances this complicated.
At this stage, nothing is confirmed. The TSN legal analyst has provided new insight, but the road ahead remains filled with hurdles. Hart’s future depends not just on courtrooms and contracts, but on public sentiment, league discretion, and his own ability to weather the storm that continues to swirl around him. For the Edmonton Oilers, the situation presents an unexpected opportunity—and an even greater challenge. Whether they pursue it or not may depend on events far beyond their control.
One thing is certain: the NHL world will be watching every development with sharp focus. Carter Hart’s story, once seemingly paused indefinitely, is suddenly being rewritten in real time. And if Edmonton is indeed the team willing to turn the page with him, then hockey’s next big headline might not be about a trade or a Stanley Cup— but about the most controversial comeback the league has seen in years.
