Potential offers surface for one of 5 players after Not Guilty verdicts in WJC trial

The NHL took a stand, but with the NHLPA fighting back, one or more of the five players could play in 2025-26.

Things move fast in the NHL offseason and that includes what may come next for the five players from the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team who were found not guilty in the sexual assault trial on Thursday.

The NHL declared the players currently ineligible to play in the league, saying that Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote would be ineligible to play despite the players being found not guilty of all charges in an encounter with a woman in a hotel room seven years ago. In its statement, the NHL said the allegations in the case were “very disturbing,” even if not deemed criminal.

The league also called the behaviour of the players “unacceptable”. The NHLPA has issued a strong response to the ban, saying that its players should “have the opportunity to return to work.”

The feeling is now that, following the Players’ Association’s response, some teams will go after some of the players, to see if there is interest for an NHL return. Michael Russo of the Athletic has reported that “ there are certainly NHL executives with interest in signing some of the players,” with a focus on players like Hart, McLeod and Dube.

When it comes to Hart, speculation is quickly heating up around his potential return to the NHL and which team might be ready to take the chance.

Despite the NHL ruling the five players ineligible to play while it reviews the judge’s findings, chatter around the league is already pointing to a possible return with Eric Macramalla of TSN absolutely convinced that the goalie will play in the upcoming season.

For weeks now, even before the verdict was made, Hart has been linked to the Edmonton Oilers. It all started when Kevin Weekes stunned everyone when he mentioned how Oilers Stan Bowman was reportedly considering signing none other than Hart in Edmonton to improve the goaltending situation for his team moving forward when free agency opened on July 1st.

It is a fact that goaltending depth remains a concern in Edmonton, and seeing that the Oilers are in a win-now mode with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl; a stable, young goalie could be appealing.

On top of that, let’s just say the Oilers are no stranger to polarizing decisions with past controversial decisions to give second chances to players like Evander Kane and Corey Perry, or even with the return of GM Bowman in the NHL.

Many experts believe this could all happen very quickly, and that Hart will be in high demand. And so an offer could be coming soon, especially with the NHLPA currently fighting against the league’s ban.

“A number of NHL teams could use an upgrade in goal, and Hart, 26, is a former No. 1 goaltender who showed flashes of great potential with the Philadelphia Flyers,” wrote Russo.

Hart made 25 starts for the Flyers in the 2023-24 season before he left to deal with much bigger issues. In total, Hart played 227 total games for the Flyers, including 218 starts. He was a second-round pick by the Flyers in the 2016 NHL draft.

While the NHL’s internal review continues, the hockey world isn’t standing still. If the league lifts Hart’s ineligibility, especially under NHLPA pressure, teams like the Oilers might be ready to move fast. Whether fans embrace that remains to be seen.