Just 22, Flyers Carter Hart Has Quickly Become Elite

When the Philadelphia Flyers drafted Carter Hart with the 48th overall pick in the 2016 draft, the stage was set. Now, at Hart’s 22nd birthday, he has already become one of the faces of sports in this city.

Today, Carter Hart turns 22-years-old. But, if you watched the Flyers 2-1 win last night in Game1 vs Montreal, you would have never known.

Since being drafted, Carter Hart has been seen as the future in Philadelphia. Many believed he would be the answer to the Flyers goal-tending issues.

Carter Hart was drafted by former GM Ron Hextall. Fitting that the last great goalie the Flyers had was Hextall himself.

Ron Hextall last played for the Flyers in 1999. Over the next 20 years, the Flyers have tried to find the next generational talent to lead them in net. They have found one in Carter Hart.

In just over a year and a half, Carter Hart has gone from rookie phenom to elite caliber starter. During Hart’s first 75 games, Carter has done nothing except set record after record after record.

Carter Hart’s first career playoff start, last night vs Montreal, came against his childhood idol, Carey Price. It is fitting that most of the records Hart has broken were those of his childhood idol Carey Price.

Before his 22nd birthday, Carter Hart has re-written the NHL record books with his name in it. Here are just a few…

• ~ First goaltender in NHL history to record multiple win streaks of seven-plus games at age 21 or younger

• ~ Youngest goaltender in Flyers franchise history to record a shutout

• ~ Tied for longest win streak, eight consecutive wins, before his 21st birthday in NHL history

• ~ Youngest goaltender in Flyers franchise history to win his NHL debut and the youngest in NHL to win his first start since Carey Price

• ~ Youngest Flyers goaltender to earn a win in his postseason debut

But, it has not just been records. Carter Hart has been among the elite of the NHL in the stat column during the season as well.

Over the past two seasons, Carter Hart ranks in the top 7 of wins, goals-against-average, & save percentage in home starts among all goalies in NHL. Hart’s goals-against-average & save percentage in all competitions ranks in the top 15 among all NHL goalies.

Carter Hart’s quick emergence on the scene was not something many thought would happen. However, in just 75 games, Carter Hart has become a star & his stats prove just that.

Just 22-years-old, Carter Hart can say he has done some pretty elite things at a young age. If Hart’s future & prime is anything like the present, the Flyers have finally found their next great goalie.