Knight spoke to the media on Wednesday for the first time since entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February
Skating in the goal crease at the Ice Den in Coral Springs, Florida Panthers netminder Spencer Knight looked up and smiled at a teammate after making a sliding glove save during Wednesday's development camp practice.
His smile, bright as ever, could be seen through his goalie mask from across the rink.
It’s as though he never left.
Knight is enjoying his first work on the ice in months.
The 22-year-old took a leave of absence from the Panthers in February to enter into the NHL and NHLPA's joint player assistance program.
After completing the program and taking some time with friends and family to enjoy what was left of his summer, Knight is back in South Florida and ready to resume his hockey career.
He spoke to the media on Wednesday, his first time in front of microphones and a camera in nearly half a year.
Knight appeared to be comfortable and cheerful, making jokes and happily engaging with the small gaggle of reporters.
When asked about the process of what the last few months have been like for him, Knight said he would speak about it at the appropriate moment.
"I don't think it's the right time to address anything on that front. I'll do that when I feel the time is right," he said. "Regardless, I'm just happy to be here…and just have fun, I think that's the biggest thing."
From an observer's perspective, it certainly appears that he's succeeding in that regard.
Looking ahead to training camp, there is a still a big question mark hanging over Florida's second goal crease.
We know Sergei Bobrovsky will occupy one net. The Panthers, and Knight, would love for him to fill the second cage, but nobody is putting any pressure or expectation on him being there when the season starts.
"We haven't addressed it much," Knight said when asked about Florida's goaltending situation. "I think we have a bunch of good goalies here in the system. I could think things or speculate on how things go, but the one thing I've learned is that I've just got to be cool with whatever happens, you know? If you go here, great. If you’re there, great. If this happens, great. That's the approach I have to have, because I know the skill I have, and I don't doubt that. The skill, combined with my physical capability…I think I have tremendous skill, and I think I can be one of the best goalies in this league. I'm still 22."
An NHL first-round draft pick and starring goaltender for Team USA while he was still a teenager, there is no denying that Knight has all the physical tools to be considered one of the top goalie prospects in the world.
He now seems keen on mastering the mental aspects of the game, and understanding that there are some things you can control, and some things you can't.
"I think the mentality of embracing the uncertainty and just embracing that we don't know what is going to happen next," Knight said. "Do you think Florida thought they would be the Stanley Cup Final in January? But they are, right? So I think that's one thing I'm embracing. Who knows what's going to happen? But I think I'm cool with that, and I think I'm going to become a better goalie and person from that."
Ultimately, development camp is step one on a path that Knight is hoping leads him back to the NHL.
There will be more practices, more workouts, training camp and the preseason.
By that time, Knight, and the Panthers, should have a good idea of where the goalie is at.
And they'll go from there.
"You can't really replicate environments where there's not a structure or intensity," Knight said. "So this is one step, and then obviously you get to games, and you can't compare games to practice, right? So I think that'll be fun to get back in the swing of things."