NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed on Monday that the Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, and Calgary Flames, whose players are facing sexual assault charges stemming from a 2018 incident in London, Ont., will receive salary cap relief.
Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and Dillon Dube have been charged with one count of sexual assault, with McLeod facing an additional charge.
Last month, Hart, McLeod, Foote, and Dube were granted leaves of absence from their NHL clubs to handle their legal proceedings. Formenton, who had been playing overseas for HC Ambrì-Piotta, was also granted leave to return to Canada to address his legal issues.
Hart, in the final year of a three-year contract with the Flyers worth $3.979 million this season, has $1,512,849 remaining on his contract for the rest of the regular season, according to CapFriendly.
Dube, in the final year of a three-year contract with the Flames worth $2.3 million per season, has $874,479 remaining on his contract for the rest of the season, according to CapFriendly.
The Devils have both Foote and McLeod under contract for this season. McLeod’s contract, worth $1.4 million this season, has $532,292 remaining. Foote’s $800,000 deal has $304,167 remaining for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
None of the players charged by the London Police Department has an NHL contract beyond this current season.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman commented on the situation at the NHL All-Star Game, saying, “Well, they’re away from their teams now, and they’re all (pending) free agents. As a personal matter, if I were them, I would be focusing on defending themselves, assuming the charges come down. And I would be surprised if they’re playing while this is pending.”
