Carter Hart joins the Vegas Golden Knights after sexual assault acquittal

The GIST: In news that’s equal parts infuriating and predictable, Carter Hart — one of five former NHL players at the center of the infamous Hockey Canada sexual assault case — is on the cusp of returning to the league, signing a professional tryout agreement with the Vegas Golden Knights yesterday.

The context: Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton were acquitted of sexual assault charges in July, a devastating outcome after a years-long, highly publicized saga that also exposed Hockey Canada’s shocking slush fund. For many hockey fans, it felt like a gut punch.

• In the wake of the verdict, the NHL suspended all five players until December 1st, releasing a statement calling the trial’s events “deeply troubling and unacceptable.” But that same press release reinstated them, stating they’d be eligible to sign with teams beginning this past Wednesday.

The latest: Hart hasn’t signed an official deal with Vegas, only the opportunity to try out after nearly two years off the ice…not that that’s any better. Notably, the Knights have often operated with a win-at-all-costs mentality, and it’s made them one of the league’s most-hated franchises.

• Now, they’ve released a statement touting “core values” while signing a player who was on trial for sexual assault. Make it make sense.

The bottom line: Turning a blind eye to allegations of sexual misconduct is all too familiar in men’s sports. The NHL said the players’ conduct didn’t meet its standards, but in yet another watershed moment for the league — an organization that has repeatedly been called out for its toxicity and lack of inclusivity — they made their priorities crystal clear.