Darien’s Spencer Knight inks three-year deal with Panthers
The NHL dream of Darien’s Spencer Knight had been in a holding pattern for the past two years while he played for Boston College and helped Team USA capture a World Junior Championship.
It’s been a bit of a wait, so when he finally signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Knight still had a hard time believing it.
“To me, it almost doesn’t seem real yet,” Knight, a 6-foot-3, 192-pound goaltender, said. “I remember I grew up watching the NHL when I was four or five years old and it seems like a far-off fantasy land sometimes. I still don’t even realize what I’m doing.
“I think once I get there and I see who’s around me, it’ll be pretty cool and I’ll take it all in.”
The Panthers had selected Knight 13th overall in the 2019 NHL draft.
“We are thrilled to have agreed to terms on a contract with Spencer,” Florida general manager Bill Zito said. “He is an immensely talented and dynamic young goaltender who has been an elite player at every level that he has played. From the collegiate ranks to international tournaments, Spencer has consistently elevated his game, a testament to his work ethic, compete, and character,”
Knight, 19, appeared in 54 games at Boston College, compiling a 39-12-3 record with eight shutouts, a .931 save percentage, and a 2.05 goals against average.
The Eagles’ 2020-21 season ended Sunday when they lost to St. Cloud 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA
tournament.
Knight said his decision to leave Boston College as a sophomore was “bittersweet.”
“The reason why I made the decision now within a week of playing my last game (at Boston College) was just so I could get into the system and continue on however much longer is left in the (NHL) season,” Knight said. “I’m looking forward to having a good string of months or weeks to get used to pro life.”
The Panthers have three goalies on the current roster, headlined by starter Sergei Bobrovsky, an 11-year NHL veteran. Bobrovsky, 32, is in the second year of a seven-year, $70 million contract.
Despite having Bobrovsky wrapped up, Knight said the Panthers made it clear they wanted him on the roster as well.
“When I talked to the management staff, they made it clear on what they wanted to do and they said all the right things,” Knight said. “It turned out to be a great situation for me.”
Knight said he’s ready for whatever the Panthers have planned.
“Just being in Florida to start and see what it’s like is more than I can ask for,” he said.
Knight’s hockey life has been a whirlwind over the past four months. He helped Team USA win the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Edmonton in January, withKnight making 34 saves to shut down heavily-favored Canada 2-0 in the title game.
At Boston College this winter, Knight was 16-4-1 and ranked fifth in the country in both save percentage (.932) and wins. He was named a finalist for both the 2021 Mike Richter Award, given to the top goalie in men’s NCAA Div. I ice hockey, and the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top college men’s hockey player in the nation.
For now, Knight is trying not to look too far ahead, enjoying the moment and trying to tackle whatever comes next.
“It’s obviously right in front of me and I’m going to try and take it day by day and really not look past what’s next,” Knight said. “It’s very important to stay on the present and realize these are moments people look back on and cherish for the rest of their lives. So I’m trying to just enjoy every single moment of it.”