VOORHEES, N.J. -- Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere said Tuesday that the agent for free agent Carter Hart told the team the goalie has ruled out signing with the franchise when he is eligible to return to the NHL next month.

Hart is one of five players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018 when they were members of Canada's world junior team. The NHL has since reinstated the players and said they would be eligible to sign contracts on Oct. 15 and take part in games on Dec. 1 .

The NHL's decision came roughly seven weeks after Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were found not guilty by a judge in London, Ontario. The Canadian government told lawyers for the players last month it would not appeal

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