Bruce Cassidy provided the Vegas Golden Knights masses with some more good news on Friday. No, it isn't the Golden Knights getting another win against a playoff-position team in the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's more along the lines of Carter Hart getting back on the ice.
Cassidy says Carter Hart was on the ice today. Not quite ready to join the team in practice yet but he's getting closer.
— SinBin.vegas 🇺🇸🥇 (@SinBinVegas) March 13, 2026
Now, it might be a little bit longer before Hart returns to an NHL game for the Golden Knights. However, it's a promising sign for a team that's dealt with countless injuries during the season. That has included Mark Stone, Brayden McNabb, and Shea Theodore, all of which have left massive voids on Vegas's team this season.
Fans can point to the overwhelming 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins as a perfect example. This was the first game that Mark Stone played since sustaining an upper-body injury against... the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sure, he didn't get a single point. But does that matter when the team explodes for six goals?
Granted, Hart isn't going to have the same effect as, say, the team's Captain. After all, his GAA of 3.28 and save percentage of .871 leave much to be desired. However, his eventual return from his injury on January 8 bolsters a goaltending group that has struggled. It takes the pressure off Adin Hill and Akira Schmid, giving them more time to rest.
Not only that, but Hart actually has reinforcements this time around. That includes an incoming Nic Dowd and Cole Smith, both of whom provide more defensive structure for Vegas. Add McNabb and Theodore and things are looking up.
The past month has been mostly great news on the injury front for Vegas. The team has started getting key pieces back, bolstering numerous facets. Now, they're one step closer to adding another part of the equation to the puzzle in Hart, leaving them in a better position.