The Chicago Blackhawks made a trade involving Seth Jones and Spencer Knight that will have long lasting positive effects on the team. These are the types of moves that will help turn the team around in the short term and allow them to stay on top once they reach it.
After Knight's showing in his first game to his postgame comments, he is a keeper. He proved to not only be wise beyond his years as a 23-year-old goaltender, but also very determined to see the Blackhawks win games, especially if he has something to say about it.
"One thing I've tried to build is to be able to play in every sort of situation whether it's a lot of shots, no shots, because that's what it's going to take to be able to win in the end," Knight said. "Not every game is going to be the same and you're not going to be a star every night. And you've got to learn how to impact the game even when you're not feeling good."
Knight didn't face nearly as many shots per night in Florida than he did in his first game or is likely to face the rest of the season. He is young and is likely going to be with the Blackhawks a long time, so he already knows what he has to do.
He repeated that "I don't care if we're in first place or last place or anywhere in between, we're coming to the rink and playing to win every night, and that's my motto going forward. I'm here to build a championship winning team, whether that's a year, two years, five, I don't know. But that's what we're working towards."
Knight has got a taste of winning, even if he wasn't the main piece of the puzzle for the Panthers. He definitely wants to be the netminder that leads the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup and be the one starting the meaningful games. It was a good start, but there's a long road to go.
Knight also made it clear that "It's a team effort. Team win. Everyone battled, blocked shots, big goals, and that's what it's going to take." He seems like a great vocal leader, even at a young age, and someone that is going to succeed with the way he thinks and acts.
The 23-year-old has already experienced games across four different seasons in the NHL and has always put up better than a .900 SV%. That is what is needed in Chicago and he is only going to get better now that he is seen as the guy on the Blackhawks. Everything that comes with Knight has been positive so far and the Blackhawks and fans should be thrilled.
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