KHL Coach Asked Flyers Defenseman About Carter Hart

According to Russian media, at least one KHL club displayed some interest in signing former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, though nothing ultimately came to fruition.

Ak Bars Kazan head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin told Championat‘s Dmitry Storozhev that his club considered Hart, even seeking a Flyers defenseman’s opinion, but in the end decided to stick with what they already had.

“We negotiated with Timur Bilyalov. We found out who was on the market. We believe in our goalies,” Gatiyatulin said to Storozhev. “I worked with Egor Zamula, I asked him about (Carter) Hart. But we believe in our goalies.”

Bilyalov, 29, is heading into his sixth consecutive year with Ak Bars after signing a two-year contract extension with the Russian outfit on April 27. The seven-year KHL veteran was once a KHL All-Star and named the KHL Best Goaltender, among his assortment of other awards from his time playing in the VHL and MHL leagues as a youngster.

Hart, of course, has not played professional hockey since Jan. 20, when the Flyers lost 7-4 to the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Hart left the Flyers on a personal leave of absence on Jan. 23 and was charged with one count of sexual assault on Feb. 5, stemming from his alleged involvement in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case.

That charge has not been proven in court.

After going through the July 1 deadline without a qualifying offer from the Flyers, Hart became an unrestricted free agent, so signing a contract abroad would have been no issue for him.

Additionally, forwards Michael McLeod and Dillon Dube, who were also charged correspondingly in the Hockey Canada case, signed KHL contracts this summer. McLeod signed a one-year contract with Kazakhstan-based KHL club Barys Astana on Aug. 2, while Dube joined the Belarusian Dinamo Minsk on a one-year deal on July 1.

At the time of this writing, Hart remains without a professional contract after being let go by the Flyers.