Plan for Spencer Knight explained following addition to Florida Panthers playoff roster
Knight returns to Panthers after strong season with AHL's Charlotte Checkers
A familiar face was seen at the Florida Panthers practice facility on Friday.
Goaltender Spencer Knight was added to the Panthers playoff roster following the elimination of the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers from the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Florida’s first round pick at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Knight spent the first two full seasons of his professional career with the Panthers, holding a 32-17-6 record with a respectable .906 save percentage and 2.91 goals against average.
Midway through the 2022-23 season, Knight left the Panthers and joined the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for what he has since revealed was issues with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He re-joined the Panthers over the summer, taking part in the team’s development camp before joining Florida for its formal training camp in September.
The plan was to take it slow with Knight as he worked his way back, and he spent the season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers under the watchful eye of goaltending coach Leo Luongo, brother of Panthers legend Roberto Luongo, both founding members of Florida’s Goaltending Excellence Department.
Knight enjoyed a solid season for Charlotte, boosted by a spectacular run during the second half that helped the Checkers reach the postseason.
He finished with a 25-14-5 record along with a .905 save percentage, a 2.41 goals against average and five shutouts, third-most in the league.
At the conclusion of the AHL season, Knight was named the winner of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award, which is given annually to “the player best exemplifying the qualities demonstrated by Fred T. Hunt: sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey,” per the AHL.
Now he returns to the Panthers with a full, successful season under his belt, ready to help the big club however he can.
“It’s a great environment for him to come in, because he can interact with his teammates – and that’s what these guys are – in a more casual environment, because he’s not under the pressure of going into the next the next night,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “It’s a great way for him to come back in.”
For now, Knight will be practicing with the team and spending time with Panthers goalie coach Robb Tallas in order to work on his personal game.
Still only 23 years old, Knight has plenty of hockey left in front of him.
Now it’s all about the process of preparing to resume his NHL career, whatever that may entail, now that he’s back with the Panthers.
“We can tailor now how heavy his days are,” Maurice said. “He’s gonna get out with shooters and really get worked hard on certain days, which will be great for him. It will also allow us to do things with Anthony (Stolarz) and Sergei (Bobrovsky), so it’s a great environment for him to come in to.”
Knight was on the ice with the Panthers on Friday as the team works to stay sharp between playoff series.
Florida eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games and haven’t played since Monday.
That means it’ll be a full week between games for the Panthers when they host Game 1 of the second round on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena.
For what its worth, Maurice has maintained all season that his team plays well after extended breaks.
Maurice also said he isn’t worried about his players staying fresh. He’s more concerned about the coaching staff.
“I think the players are fine. I think the coaches are waiting to do some work,” he said. “We’re basically prepping for two teams now, but we’re not coming in and giving it to the hockey team. So we’re grinding a whole bunch of video that we’re never ever gonna use, and that’s fine. It’s gotta get done. So the coaches are probably more anxious…watching video is only so much fun. Coaches need a game.”
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