Vegas Golden Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee has spoken out on the possibility of signing goaltender Carter Hart following his acquittal in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case.

Carter Hart and four other players from Canada's 2018 World Junior Championship team were acquitted of all sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged incident in June 2018 in London, Ontario.

Following the verdict, the NHL reinstated the players after a league-mandated suspension. Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in October on a two-year, $4 million contract.

The goalie has since returned to NHL action and was instrumental in the Golden Knights' Cup run, which ended in a six-game loss to the eventual champions, the Carolina Hurricanes.

On a recent episode of The Cam & Strick Podcast, George McPhee addressed the Carter Hart controversy. He stressed the importance of giving young people a second chance:

He added:

Carter Hart posted an 11-3-3 record, with a 2.71 GAA and .891 save percentage in the regular season. The 27-year-old goalie went 14-8-0 in 22 playoff games, with a 2.56 GAA and .909 save percentage.

The Golden Knights were stripped of a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for violating the playoffs' media regulations. Sharing his thoughts on the incident, George McPhee said:

The fine was issued as a result of the post-game aftermath of Game 6 in their Western Conference Final series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Head coach John Tortorella declined to speak with reporters, and the team did not open the dressing room to the media as required. Tortorella was also fined $100,000.

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