This past March, the Chicago Blackhawks made a bold move, acquiring goaltender Spencer Knight and a first-round pick from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones. The deal not only closed the book on a disappointing chapter in Blackhawks history but also opened a promising new one, potentially anchored by a franchise-caliber netminder.
Jones, who never quite met expectations in Chicago, now holds a Stanley Cup title with Florida. But for the Blackhawks, the real headline was bringing in Knight—once seen as the Panthers’ goalie of the future—who now has the opportunity to reset his career in Chicago.
Knight, a Connecticut native standing 6-foot-3, was the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He quickly impressed during his collegiate career at Boston College, posting stellar save percentages of .931 and .932 across two seasons. Knight made the jump to the NHL in the 2020-21 season, making his debut just one day after turning 20. In his first four NHL games, he posted a 2.32 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. His debut was historic—he became the first goalie born in the 2000s to appear in an NHL game and the youngest in Panthers history to earn a win.
There was a period when Knight appeared poised to take the starting job from veteran Sergei Bobrovsky. But as Bobrovsky rebounded, Knight’s struggles became more apparent. In February 2023, he stepped away from the game to seek help through the NHL’s player assistance program. Knight later revealed he had been managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a battle that had deeply affected his performance.
After spending the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, Knight showed strong signs of regaining his form. He returned to the NHL last season and recorded a 2.40 GAA and a .907 save percentage across 23 games—numbers that reflected steady improvement.
Yet despite his potential, the Panthers—facing salary cap constraints—had to make tough roster decisions, and Knight’s $4.5 million cap hit became expendable. Chicago saw the opportunity and pounced.
Now 24, Knight finds himself with a fresh start on a rebuilding Blackhawks squad. While the team’s goalie chart is deep—with Arvid Soderblom, Drew Commesso, and veteran Laurent Brossoit in the mix—Knight enters a contract year with a clear mission: prove he can be the cornerstone between the pipes.
His journey to Chicago hasn’t been smooth, but it’s far from over. The Blackhawks are betting that this is where Spencer Knight finally takes flight.
