Nothing quite says National Hockey League like five men being acquitted of sexual assault and 32 teams licking their chops to offer them their next contract. Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, and Cal Foote were all banished from the NHL after being accused of sexual assault in 2018. The wheels of justice in Canada turn ever so slowly, and with a not guilty verdict officially determined by the Canadian judicial system, the five men are free to sign with any NHL team willing to offer them a contract.
Here’s the hitch: while teams were free to flirt and negotiate with the idea of signing any of the five hockey players, they couldn’t officially put pen to paper to ink a new deal until Oct. 15, 2025. The Vegas Golden Knights were clearly foaming at the mouth waiting for their chance to add Carter Hart to their squad, and promptly signed the Canadian goaltender as soon as the clock struck midnight on Oct. 15. However, Hart won’t be able to join his new team until Dec. 1. Hopefully that’s not long enough for a background check.
