The Vegas Golden Knights lost the Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes. They made many in-season moves that brought them to the Cup Final, including hiring John Tortorella and finding a new goalie. Carter Hart returned to the NHL with the Golden Knights after he was acquitted of sexual assault charges in Canada. He spoke about the support he received from Vegas fans when he met with the media on Tuesday.
“My gratitude is at an all-time high. To be here in Las Vegas, the community is amazing. The fan base is just top-notch, and the support that we get is outstanding. Just to see how much we mean to them, it’s really special,” Hart said.
Carter Hart: My gratitude is at an all-time high. To be here in Las Vegas, the community is amazing. The fan base is just top notch, and the support that we get is outstanding. Just to see how much we mean to them, it’s really special.
Hear the rest of what Hart and Rasmus… pic.twitter.com/jS9bssWDza
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 16, 2026
Hart was removed from the Philadelphia Flyers roster during the 2023-24 season, along with four of his teammates from the 2018 World Junior team. They were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in London, Ontario. All five men were acquitted of all charges and are allowed to return to the NHL. Hart was the only one to play in the league this season, while Cal Foote played for the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate.
Hart was fantastic in the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He posted a .922 save percentage in 16 games, logging 12 wins along the way. But in the Stanley Cup Final, Hart was dreadful. He became the first goalie in Stanley Cup Final history to allow at least four goals in each of the four games. The only time he allowed fewer than four goals was in Game 6, a 3-0 loss to end the season.
Hart is under contract with the Golden Knights for next year at $2 million. After a dreadful season from Adin Hill, who is paid as a starter, Vegas is counting on Hart to be a solid goalie once again.
The post Carter Hart thanks Golden Knights fans after Stanley Cup Final loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.
