Golden Knights Looking Forward to Welcoming Hart to ‘Culture’

After officially joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization on Thursday, Carter Hart spoke with the media and highlighted that he felt grateful for the chance to play hockey again. His new teammates, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, also spoke about how happy they are to have him.

“Exciting. Good goalie. Happy to welcome him to the culture of the Vegas Golden Knights,” said captain Mark Stone. “We’re looking forward to having him be one of our goaltenders, and I think he’s excited to join the group.”

When asked, Stone confirmed that the front office approached the players before the Golden Knights signed Hart, saying they “put a lot of time and effort” into the decision. 

“We’re looking forward to having him here, looking forward to where our team’s going,” said Stone. “We talked with everybody here. We all talked about it today, and we saw Carter today for the first time. Happy to have him here, happy to welcome him to our team, to our family, and incorporate him into the culture that we have.”

Read More: Acquitted Goaltender Carter Hart Joining Golden Knights

Stone spoke again about the culture around the team. He cited culture as a reason that any player wants to play for the Golden Knights.

“I think we’ve created a pretty damn good culture here. Lot of character people in the locker room, lot of character people in the entire organization,” Stone said. “I think every new player that comes into our locker room, we want to make them feel welcome, want them to feel like they’re part of this group from day one.”

“The culture of this team has been outstanding, from October 1st on,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy. “They’ve been a big part of the community, and endeared themselves to the fanbase because of that. As for Carter himself, like every other player who walks through that room, he’ll be expected to uphold that standard.”

Jack Eichel also weighed in on the Golden Knights’ decision to add Hart. 

“I think it’s great,” Eichel said. “We have a great group of people here, and culture, stemming from ownership through our entire organization. We’re looking forward to having him, and it’s a great opportunity for him to get to play hockey again. With the people we have here, in our organization, I think it’s going to be great for him to be able to do that again, and I’m sure he’s looking forward to being a hockey player.”

Eichel said that he and Hart had spoken in passing, and it was the first time they’d met.

“Seems like a nice kid,” said Eichel. “I’d never met him in the past. This is the first opportunity I’ve had the chance to talk to him.”

Read More: Carter Hart ‘Looking For Fresh Start’ With Golden Knights

Eichel praised the front office and reiterated that he and his teammates are excited for Hart to join the group.

“I think he’s coming in to help the group,” Eichel said. “I think you have a conversation, but we all know how well the guys upstairs work. They know what they’re doing. I think when you speak to people who know Carter, they have a lot of good things to say about his character and who he is as a person. We’re really looking forward to having him and moving forward. 

“And we’re here for him,” added Eichel. “We’re a big family and we support each other, and that’s the big thing.”

When Hart spoke with the media on Thursday, he took care to mention how the team and organization have made him feel welcome.

“One thing I’ve missed a lot over the past year and a half is the team element, being around the guys. Today, I know I just got here, but everybody’s been so great,” said Hart.