- Hart spoke at Stanley Cup Final media day in Raleigh on Monday
- It was his first public answer on the topic since signing with Vegas
- Read below for Hart’s full media day video, quotes, and GM Kelly McCrimmon’s defense
Carter Hart finally addressed the elephant in the room.
Speaking at Stanley Cup Final media day in Raleigh on Monday, the Golden Knights goaltender was asked what he has learned and how he has grown since signing with Vegas in October. It was Hart’s first public answer on the topic since he and four other former World Juniors players were reinstated by the NHL following their acquittal in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial this summer.
“I’ve been able to meet a lot of good people in the community,” Hart said. “I think the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation has done a really good job of making it easy for me to integrate into the community and meet a lot of cool people. Just really fortunate to be here in Vegas. It’s a great culture of people. Like I said, I’ve met a lot of cool people and just very fortunate to be here in Las Vegas and with this group.”
Watch the full video of Hart’s media day session:
His session ended right after that answer. Hart remains the only one of the five acquitted players to land an NHL deal, and Vegas has steered him away from off-ice questions all season.
GM Kelly McCrimmon, who signed Hart to a two-year, $4 million pact last fall, took the podium next and pushed back on the notion that the 27-year-old came with baggage.
“We went through a lengthy process of due diligence with Carter,” McCrimmon said. “Carter is a really good person. He’s ingrained himself in our community. He’s a player that I’ve known a long time, long prior to him becoming an NHL player. Playing very well. Obviously a big part of how our team is at this point that we’re at today, and he’s fit in seamlessly with his teammates.”
Here’s the full McCrimmon and John Tortorella session:
The hockey has done the rest of the talking. Hart is 12-4 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.22 GAA through three rounds, riding a six-game winning streak that included a sweep of Colorado. He gets the Game 1 start against Carolina on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center, and our Hart-Andersen goalie matchup breakdown lays out the duel that could decide the series.
