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Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Blackhawks Raise Goaltending Bar With Spencer Knight Addition

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Brooke LoFurno | Last updated Mar 2, 2025 2:15 PM ET

The Chicago Blackhawks made NHL headlines last night (March 1) after trading defenseman Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 conditional first-round pick.

This deal benefits both sides. Jones’s trade request to a contender was fulfilled, and the Blackhawks added a very skilled goaltender (and another draft pick!) to their pipeline.

So, let’s get to know more about Knight.

Knight’s Potential Has Always Been on Display

There’s always been an aura around Spencer Knight that carried a lot of excitement and expectation. He was the 13th overall pick by the Panthers in 2019, and the impressions he gave, even then, remain.

General manager Kyle Davidson said about acquiring Knight, “I think we’re getting a really exciting young talent. Very technically sound. A winner at all levels. We loved him in the draft, and he’s just had great success at every place he’s been, whether that’s in junior, at the U.S. program, Boston College, and then in the AHL and NHL.”

The 2019 draft is when the Blackhawks drafted Kirby Dach third overall, but it’s exciting to see the team get a look at another player they valued at the time, and for good reason.

If you look back on his draft analyses, two things continuously pop up: “athleticism” and “franchise goaltender.” This also stands out because the Blackhawks selected goaltender Adam Gajan in 2023, partly due to his athleticism. So it’s good to keep adding that trait to the pipeline.

Sam Cosentino of SportsNet said that Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) was the best player comparable to Knight when he got drafted. Funny enough, the Blackhawks were very high on Oettinger, with him even believing the Hawks would select him before they traded the 26th overall pick to Dallas.

Knight has had ups and downs on the ice in his four pro years, as expected, but has had an excellent season backing up Sergei Bobrovsky, posting a 12-8-1 record with a 2.40 GAA (Goals-against Average) and a .907 SV% (Save Percentage) in 23 games. Including his recent 6-2 stretch with a 1.73 GAA.

His career SV% is .906, and his GAA is 2.76 in 80 games. There is a lot of upside.

“He’s someone that has met every challenge he’s faced and has seemingly thrived at every level. We’re really excited about getting a 23-year-old goalie that is just growing in his game, his career, and who has an upside that’s pretty incredible,” added Davidson.

Knight’s On-and-Off Ice Experience an Asset For Blackhawks

When Knight was drafted, he was noted for his maturity, and it seems the Panthers community thoroughly welcomed that alongside his personable demeanor.

You might recall Knight’s name because in February 2023, he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which he disclosed was due to OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). He bravely shared his story and how he hopes to continue to help others, saying, “There is nothing to hide. I think I will become a better person and player from it, and hopefully there is someone out there who will hear my story, and hopefully it helps them, too.”

Panthers general manager Bill Zito described him as a “first-class individual.” Captain Aleksander Barkov said Knight was one of the most professional people he had been around. He spent all last season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers and was the Panthers’ third goalie during their Stanley Cup run. He eventually worked his way back to being the team’s number two goaltender this season.

Despite everything he has been through, Knight was never deterred. He said in 2023, “I can still be the player I want to be, and I still believe I can be one of the best goalies in this league.”

Now, Knight will get a chance to earn a more significant role than he was likely to get in Florida. His addition raises questions in net, but Davidson seemingly did not just acquire Knight (who is under contract until the end of next season) to be a benchwarmer for the remaining 22 games.

With Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom in net, it seems plausible that something could be in the works either at the trade deadline (March 7) or over the summer to move a goaltender out. Laurent Brossoit is still part of the equation after signing a two-year deal in the summer. But with barely any updates on his status since his second knee surgery in November, it doesn’t sound promising he will play this season. Davidson said in January that he wasn’t concerned about the possibility of juggling three goalies if Brossoit returned, but four goalies is another story.

I believe the tandem should be Soderblom and Knight, but we’ll see how it plays out.

Overall, Davidson was right. Knight has met every challenge and thrived despite it all. They still have Gajan and Drew Commesso to evaluate, but Knight’s addition raises the bar for the future of the Blackhawks’ goaltending.