In a thrilling update from The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, the future of free agent goaltender Carter Hart is heating up as he looks to reignite his NHL career. After being acquitted of serious charges in July, Hart is set to join the ranks of eligible players on October 15th, and potential teams are already lining up!

Johnston reveals that Hart is zeroing in on some enticing options, with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes emerging as favorites. These teams are not just attractive; they offer Hart a promising path back to playing time—something he desperately seeks!

The Golden Knights are gearing up for the new season with Adin Hill and Akira Schmid as their expected goaltending duo. However, Schmid’s limited experience, with only five games under his belt last season, raises questions about their stability in net.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are in a somewhat stronger position with their current goalies, Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. But don’t be fooled—Andersen’s battle with injuries over the past three seasons and Kochetkov’s rocky performance last season (an .898 save percentage) might push Carolina to consider adding Hart to the mix.

With both teams poised for a successful season, it looks like Carter Hart is on the brink of making a pivotal decision that could shape his career's next chapter. As negotiations heat up, fans can only speculate where the talented goaltender will land!