Carter Hart Leaves Flyers; Sam Ersson Now No. 1 Goalie

Carter Hart has left the Flyers for an unknown amount of time, general manager Danny Briere announced before his team lost to visiting Tampa Bay, 6-3, on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old goalie “has requested and been granted an indefinite leave of absence citing personal reasons,” Briere said in a statement. “The club will have no further comment at this time.”

Sam Ersson has become the Flyers’ No. 1 goalie, and Cal Petersen was recalled form the Phantoms to be the backup.

Earlier this year, Hart missed time with a back injury and food poisoning.

It is unknown whether Hart’s decision is connected to the 2022 lawsuit filed against Hockey Canada’s 2018 members. There were allegations that some members of that team sexually assaulted a young woman.

The NHL has been investigating the allegations for 20 months.

Hart was on that 2018 team.

Hart has struggled recently. Overall, he has a 2.80 GAA and .906 save percentage. Ersson, 24, has played better. Entering Tuesday, the rookie had a 2.36 GAA and .909 save percentage, and he had been very good in shootouts.

In another move, the Flyers put right winger Owen Tippett on injured reserve.