Four NHL players were charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario, on Tuesday, their respective legal teams confirmed to ESPN.

Lawyers for Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, and New Jersey Devils center Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, all members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Championships team, addressed the situation later Tuesday. All four players had previously been granted leaves of absence from their NHL teams.

Five players from Canada's 2018 world junior team have taken a leave of absence from their current clubs in recent days amid a report that five members of that team have been asked to surrender to police to face sexual assault charges.

Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames and former NHL player Alex Formenton, who is now playing in Europe, all have been granted indefinite leave, with the absences announced in the past four days.

Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto is prepared for a fresh start -- and he's got a new contract to go with it.

The club announced Friday a one-year, $775,000 deal for Pinto that kicks in right before he is eligible to return from a 41-game suspension for violating the NHL's sports wagering rules. Pinto can make his season debut Sunday in Philadelphia and will earn a prorated salary of just under $360,000 for the remainder of this season.

Corey Perry met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman this week and remains eligible to sign with any team, according to multiple reports.

The private meeting did not have anything to do with Perry's eligibility, a person with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity.

Perry requested the meeting, roughly six weeks after the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his contract, citing inappropriate conduct. He was never banned or unable to sign with any of the league's other 31 teams since becoming a free agent.