Blackhawks Sign Spencer Knight to Three-Year Extension, Turn Focus to Bedard
The Chicago Blackhawks have secured another key piece of their future, signing goaltender Spencer Knight to a three-year contract extension on Saturday. The new deal will begin in the 2026–27 season, following the final year of his current contract (inherited from the Florida Panthers), and comes with a $5.83 million annual cap hit and a 15-team no-trade clause in its final year.
Knight becomes the second major restricted free agent from the Blackhawks’ 2026 class to sign long-term, following Frank Nazar, who inked a seven-year, $6.6 million AAV deal in August. That leaves only Connor Bedard still unsigned among Chicago’s top trio of young stars.
Knight is expected to take on full-time starting goalie duties this season. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson praised the 23-year-old’s poise and potential, calling him a “crucial piece” of the franchise’s future.
Much like Nazar’s extension, Knight’s deal is a calculated bet. While both players are still early in their NHL careers, locking them in now could save the team money later — if they develop into the stars Chicago is counting on during its rebuild.
The biggest contract decision still looms: Connor Bedard’s. The young phenom is likely to negotiate his extension next offseason, once he has another year of NHL experience under his belt and becomes a pending restricted free agent
