The season-ticket holders who were interviewed for this story had no restrictions on using their full names. Due to the overwhelming angry vitriol online, the author chose to only use their first name and last initial to protect them and their families' identity.

LAS VEGAS -- With the Golden Knights signing goaltender Carter Hart, the response on social media came from every direction as he became the first of the five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players to sign an NHL contract since being acquitted of sexual assault in a high-profile case.

Fans voiced their anger about the signing, believing the Knights downplayed serious allegations despite the legal resolution, fueling debates on their accountability versus the need for a goaltender.

Hart, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers until taking an indefinite leave in 2022 amid the investigation, along with Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton faced charges in 2024, but were acquitted after the complainant's unwillingness to proceed and evidentiary issues.

"you know, carter hart won’t see you cheering him on online but your friends who have been sexually assaulted will," @cemeteryfIowers also wrote on X.

Added @chefbriere, who wrote on X: "feels like a real slap in the face to women that an nhl team would go out of their way to sign a rapist when he wasn’t even that great of a player to begin with. he was already losing his starting role to (Samuel Ersson) before he left.

"congratulations to the vegas golden knights for throwing away the shred of reputation they had left by signing a mediocre rapist who literally (expletive) himself out of anxiety."

Captain Mark Stone said players were approached before Hart was signed, adding that management "put a lot of time and effort into" the signing and that the players are "looking forward to having him here."

"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," Jack Eichel said. "We’re really looking forward to having him and moving forward."

And while much of the debate on social media came from nameless or faceless X account holders, two female season ticket holders - both mothers of seven daughters combined - said they don't see an issue with the signing, considering the players were acquitted.

"I’m good with it," said Ronnie H., who has three daughters. "We are a second-chance team. We started with throwaway players that no one thought would go far, and yet here we are.

"And he was acquitted, so he should be able to live his life without all the noise. I kind of feel bad for him. He was a kid and was in with the wrong crowd, making bad, bad decisions. He’s a good goalie, and we really need another one. Everyone hates Vegas, so it’s one more thing to hate, I guess."

Terri L., who like Ronnie H., has been a season-ticket holder since the team's inception in 2017 and said other players have been surrounded by criticism, and after arriving in the Golden Knights' locker room and proving their character, were eventually embraced by the community.

She expects nothing less with Hart.

"What I love about the Knights is they don’t care about the scandal as much as they care about building a competitive roster," Terri L. said. "They evaluate the player based on the person and their skills versus the baggage they have."

Hart spoke to reporters after a morning workout at the team facility on Thursday morning.

"I'm beyond grateful, excited and honored to be part of the Golden Knights," said Hart, who made 25 starts in what was his sixth season for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023-24, when he recorded a 2.80 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, one shutout and 12-9-3 record before stepping away from the team. "It's been a long road to get back to this point, getting back to playing the game of hockey, the game that I love. I've learned a lot. I've grown a lot. Just excited to move forward.

"I've heard nothing but great things about the city, the community, the fanbase, the organization and I got to meet a lot of people today. And I'm so excited to get the chance to play in front of them, and for them. And just get to show the community my true character and who I am and what I'm about.

"I got to meet some guys here today. Everybody's been very welcoming. I'm just looking forward to getting things rolling here, getting to work alongside all these guys, getting to know them all, and continuing to build on the championship culture that's been established here in Las Vegas."