NHL teams have made the decision to sever connections with four players who were charged earlier this year in a 2018 sexual assault case.
Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, and two New Jersey Devils players, forward Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, were not extended qualifying offers by the Sunday deadline, thereby relinquishing their status as restricted free agents.
These four athletes, along with former Ottawa Senators player Alex Formenton, faced charges in February related to sexual assault. McLeod faces two charges, while the others each face one.
According to police reports, the assault took place in London, Ontario, following a 2018 Hockey Canada gala held to honor the gold-medal-winning world junior championship team.
London police chief Thai Truong explained in a February news conference, “After the event, the accused and several teammates met the victim at a downtown bar and later invited her to a hotel room, where the sexual assault by the individuals now charged took place.”
The four NHL players had asked for and were granted indefinite leave from their teams. Lawyers representing Hart and the other players have vowed to contest the charges in court.
As of June, as reported by the London Free Press, no trial date has been determined.
These players now enter the pool of unrestricted free agents. Formenton, who played in Europe last season, is also among them.
Contract Buyouts
Sunday also marked the deadline for NHL teams to buy out player contracts.
Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner has been released to free agency following the team’s decision to buy out the remaining three years of his contract.
The Edmonton Oilers announced their intentions to buy out the contract of goaltender Jack Campbell, who had been relegated to the American Hockey League after an underwhelming tenure with the team since signing as a free agent in 2022.
Additionally, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Adam Boqvist are set for buyouts, as reported by TSN.
Notably, Dallas Stars defenseman Ryan Suter, for the second time, and Flyers forward Cam Atkinson were previously bought out.
