Breaking news: ESPN Faces Criticism for Handling of Carter Hart’s NHL Return Story

ESPN Faces Backlash Over Handling of Carter Hart’s NHL Return

ESPN is drawing criticism for how it covered Carter Hart’s long-anticipated comeback to the NHL on Tuesday.

Hart, who started for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4–3 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, played his first NHL game in 682 days.

Despite the lengthy absence, many viewers felt the broadcast didn’t offer enough explanation or context about why he had been away.

Hart was acquitted in the widely followed 2018 Hockey Canada World Juniors case earlier this year and later signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Vegas—making him the only one of the five players involved to secure a new NHL deal.

Although ESPN2 and ESPN+ briefly referenced Hart’s legal history during the pregame segment—with a timeline graphic and reporting from Emily Kaplan—the topic was barely mentioned once the game started.

Throughout the three-hour ESPN+ broadcast, commentators Steve Levy and Kevin Weekes focused heavily on Hart’s on-ice play, offering enthusiastic praise and reacting energetically to his saves. Levy’s excited “welcome back Carter Hart!” after Vegas sealed the win immediately circulated online, sparking frustration among viewers who felt the tone was overly celebratory.

Social media criticism escalated quickly on X, where users accused ESPN of glossing over the circumstances behind Hart’s nearly two-year absence. Some called the broadcast tone “disconnecting” from the situation, while others described it as excessively flattering.

Podcasters Pete Blackburn and DJ Bean of What Chaos! said ESPN’s treatment leaned too hard into a heroic framing, joking that a casual viewer might think Hart had overcome a major illness rather than returning from a controversial, high-profile legal case.

ESPN declined to comment on the backlash.

The conversation extended beyond just the broadcast. Some fans responded to Hart’s return by pledging donations to organizations supporting survivors of sexual violence based on his in-game performance.

While Hart earned third star of the game, the broader debate continues—raising questions about how sports networks should balance on-ice coverage with sensitive off-ice contexts during live events.