Knight last played in mid-February before entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program
Spencer Knight will be back on the ice in Coral Springs next week.
Knight was one of the 37 players listed on the Florida Panthers 2023 Development Camp roster, which was officially released on Friday.
The hope is that Knight, Florida’s first-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, will pick up where he left off in terms of his playing career.
His last NHL game action came on Feb. 18 in Nashville, a relief appearance in which Knight played a little more than half of a 7-3 loss and stopped 12 of the 14 shots he faced.
A week later Knight would take a leave of absence from the Panthers and join the NHL and NHLPA’s joint player assistance program, which is “available to all players and their families. The program aids those who are going through mental health, substance abuse or other issues.”
Knight has since completed his treatment and has been spotted enjoying his life with friends, taking in the Belmont Stakes with some USA Hockey pals and recently going on a family vacation to Ireland.
While the Panthers and Knight would both like for the 22-year-old to resume his career as though he never left, there is a wise amount of caution being taken.
Knight will attend Development Camp, which runs July 10-14, and seemingly look to shake off any rust that may come from the extended time away from the team. That’s step one.
Should things go well at D camp for Knight, the next step would be preparing for Panthers training camp, which likely won’t be until mid-to-late September.
There will be no pressure put on Knight to earn any roles or jobs.
Panthers General Manager Bill Zito and Head Coach Paul Maurice will lean on Robb Tallas and Roberto and Leo Luongo, the brain trust in Florida’s Goaltending Excellence Department, as they evaluate Knight both on and off the ice.
If they feel the best thing for Knight would be to start games in Charlotte with the Panthers' AHL affiliate, that’s what will happen. If he’ll be best suited by playing at the NHL level with Sergei Bobrovsky, or perhaps even starting over him if that’s what his play and health dictate, so be it.
It’s all still very fluid, and the main thing being considered is the health and wellbeing of the Knight.
Seeing him smiling on the ice in a Panthers sweater will be a welcomed sight for many because of what it will mean in terms of his recovery.
The team, and the tendy, will go from there.