Edmonton Oilers bold stand on Carter Hart sparks nationwide outrage among NHL fans | NHL News
Carter Hart may not be getting a chance with the Edmonton Oilers. NHL insider Frank Seravalli said on July 28, 2025, that the team is not interested in signing the goalie. Hart and four other players were part of the Hockey Canada Five case. Although they were found not guilty in court, the NHL has said the five players cannot play for now. Seravalli called Hart a “non‑starter” for the Oilers and said the league will review the case before making a final decision.
Carter Hart and Hockey Canada Five NHL ban updates
Justice Maria Sarroccia ruled last week in Ontario’s King’s Court that Carter Hart and four teammates were not guilty in the Hockey Canada Five case. The players had faced sexual assault charges from a 2018 incident in London, Ontario. The judge said the complainant, known as E.M., gave consent and that parts of her story were not credible.Despite the verdict, the NHL told teams the players remain ineligible to sign until the commissioner’s office finishes its review. Frank Seravalli discussed this on TSN in Toronto on July 28. On the same day, Bob Stauffer, who hosts the Oilers Now show in Edmonton, asked fans and guests if the Oilers should sign any of the cleared players. Stauffer has raised this question several times since the ruling.
Brian Lawton on Stan Bowman and Edmonton Oilers second chances
On July 29, Stauffer invited former NHL agent and GM Brian Lawton to the show. Lawton said, “Canada feels divided over this. Half think the players did something horrible, half think they were cleared and should move on with their lives.” He added that the players may find it easier to sign with a U.S. team where hockey is less in the public eye.Also Read: Edmonton Oilers Face Uncertainty As Connor McDavid Eyes Short-Term NHL Contract Extension At Potential Record SalaryThe Oilers have a history of second chances. Last summer, Edmonton hired Stan Bowman as GM even though he had served a three‑year NHL suspension for mishandling a sexual assault case in Chicago in 2010. The team also signed players like Craig MacTavish, Zack Kassian, Evander Kane and Corey Perry when they faced serious problems. Many of those players rebuilt their careers and image in Edmonton.Now, with Carter Hart and the other four players, fans are wondering if the Oilers are changing their approach. NHL sources say the team has no current plans to sign any of them.Now, with Carter Hart and the others cleared in court but still banned by the NHL, fans wonder if Edmonton will stick to its history of second chances or shift course entirely.
FAQs
Are the Edmonton Oilers interested in signing Carter Hart?No, NHL insider Frank Seravalli said the Oilers have no plans to sign Carter Hart right now.Why are Carter Hart and the Hockey Canada Five not allowed to play in the NHL?The NHL has kept them ineligible until the commissioner’s office finishes its review of the 2018 case.Have the Edmonton Oilers given second chances to players before?Yes, the Oilers have signed players like Stan Bowman, Evander Kane, and Corey Perry after past issues.
