NHL teams have severed ties with four players who were indicted earlier this year in 2018 sexual assault cases.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube and New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod and defenceman Cal Foote did not receive qualifying offers by Sunday's deadline for NHL teams to retain restricted free agents.
The four, along with former Ottawa Senators player Alex Formenton, were charged with sexual assault in February. McLeod is charged with two counts and the other four with one count each.
Police say the assault happened in London, Ontario, following a Hockey Canada awards ceremony for winning gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships.
“After the incident, the defendant and several teammates met with the victim at a downtown bar and then invited her to a hotel room where she was sexually assaulted by the individuals now charged,” London police Chief Thai Truong said at a February press conference.
Four NHL players have requested and been granted indefinite leave from their teams. Hart's lawyer Other players said they plan to fight the charges in court.
The London Free Press reported in June that no trial date had been set.
The four NHL players are now unrestricted free agents. Formenton played in Europe last season.
Contract Acquisition
Sunday was also the deadline for teams to buy out players' contracts.
Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner is now a free agent after the team bought out the remaining three years of his contract.
The Edmonton Oilers announced they are in the process of acquiring goaltender Jack Campbell, who left for the American Hockey League this season after a disappointing season-plus of his 2022 free-agent contract.
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Nate Schmidt (per TSN) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Adam Boqvist are also set to be bought out.
Dallas Stars defenseman Ryan Suter (for the second time) and Flyers forward Cam Atkinson were previously bought out.
