Knight taken 13th by Florida Panthers
Darien’s Spencer Knight, considered the top drafteligible goaltender in North America, was selected by the Florida Panthers with the 13th overall pick of the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday night in Vancouver.
A member of the U.S. National Developmental Program the past two seasons, Knight will be viewed by the Panthers as the heir apparent to goalie Roberto Luongo, who has yet to make a decision on whether he’ll return for a 20th NHL season. Luongo played 40 games last season, but is fighting injuries.
Florida will likely have to wait at least a year before Knight joins their organization. He is expected to attend Boston College next season and make a decision on whether to sign a professional contract next spring. Many in professional hockey believe Knight has the potential to become the best American goaltender in history.
“I’m happy to be a Florida Panther,” Knight told NBC Sports during the live broadcast. “I think I’m pretty calm on the ice, I never get rattled, and I play pretty consistently.”
Knight was one of seven USNDP players taken in the first 15 picks of the first round. Jack Hughes went to New Jersey as the draft’s top overall pick. Also taken were center Alex Turcotte (fourth, Los Angeles), Trevor Zegras (ninth, Anaheim), Matthew Boldy (12th, Minnesota), Cam York (14th, Philadelphia) and Cole Caulfield (15h, Montreal).
The New York Rangers took highly-regarder wingpick in 2017.
Knight also became the highest-drafted goalie since Jack Campbell was taken 11th overall by Dallas in 2010.
The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau ranked Knight, who is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, as the top North American goaltender available for the draft.
Knight, 18, played youth hockey in the Mid-Fairfield program and spent a season at Avon Old Farms, where he posted a 1.89 goalsagainst average and .935 save percentage. He then joined the Michigan-based U.S. National Developmental Program. In two er Kaapo Kakko of Finland seasons, he set a program with the second overall record for career wins (59) pick. and single-season wins
Only nine other Amerafter going 32-4-1 this winican-born goaliester.havebeen first-round picks. Knight He committed to Boston joins an exclusive list that College in 2015, shortly also includes Tom Barrasso, before beginning his freshBrian Boucher, Rick Diman year of high school. Pietro and Cory Schneider. The seven-round draft
For goaltenders, being continues today. Among drafted in the first round those expected to be drafted has become a rare feat. are Milford’s Tyce ThompKnight is just the third in son, a rising sophomore at the past seven drafts. Providence College, and Washington selected Ilya Quinnipiac recruit Ethan Samsonov with the 22nd Leyh. pick in 2015; Dallas took
Jake Oettinger with the 26th