21-Year-Old Earned Most Wins by a Rookie Goaltender in Franchise History in 2021-22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Spencer Knight on a three-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season.
“Spencer is a phenomenal goaltender, as well as an exceptional athlete and person,” said Zito. “He has thrived in his professional career, dedicating himself to his training through his first two seasons with our organization. With this extension, we are excited about the present and future of Panthers goaltending.”
Knight, 21, posted a 19-9-3 record, .908 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average over 32 games with Florida in 2021-22. His 19 wins were the most by a rookie goaltender in franchise history. He also recorded his first two NHL shutouts, joining Roberto Luongo as the only rookie goaltenders in club history to post multiple shutouts in a season. With his first career shutout March 18 at Anaheim, Knight became the youngest goaltender in franchise history to blank an opponent (20 years, 333 days), and his 45 saves Nov. 18 vs. New Jersey were the most by a rookie in club history.
Knight was named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” after logging a 6-1-0 record, .925 save percentage, 2.16 goals against average and one shutout over seven appearances in April, surrendering two or fewer goals against in five of the seven games.
The 6-foot-3, 192-pound native of Darien, Conn., has appeared in 36 regular season games with Florida, owning a 23-9-3 record, .909 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average. Knight began his NHL career with wins in each of his first six career appearances, including all four regular season starts in 2020-21, which marked the fourth-longest win streak to begin a career in NHL history. His nine-game point streak (8-0-1) to begin his career tied for the fourth-longest such streak in League history.
Knight started two Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Panthers in 2020-21, stopping a combined 56 of 60 shots against for a .933 save percentage and 2.06 goals against average. With his win in Game 5 vs. Tampa Bay on May 24, 2021, Knight became the youngest Panthers goalie to make their playoff debut as well as the youngest goaltender in NHL history to win a playoff game when facing elimination.
Prior to his professional career, Knight completed two seasons (2019-20 to 2020-21) with Boston College, registering a 39-12-3 record, .931 save percentage and 2.05 goals against over 54 NCAA games. In his sophomore campaign in 2020-21, he ranked fifth in the nation in save percentage (.932) and tied for fifth in wins (16), the most among sophomore goaltenders. That season, he was named Hockey East Goaltender of the Year, Hockey East Player of the Year and was named a First Team All-Star. He was also named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award and a Top-10 Hobey Baker Award finalist.
On the international stage, Knight backstopped the United States to a Gold Medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, completing the tournament with a 5-1-0 record, 1.63 goals against average, .940 save percentage and three shutouts. He was named Player of the Game for the Gold Medal Game against Canada, stopping all 34 shots he faced, marking the first shutout in the championship game of the World Juniors since 2012, and the first shutout by the U.S. in the World Junior Championship medal round.
Overall while representing the U.S. in international competition, Knight has earned a World Junior Championship Gold Medal (2021), Silver Medal (2019), IIHF U18 WJC Silver Medal (2018), Bronze Medal (2019) and U17 World Hockey Challenge Gold Medal (2017).
Knight was originally selected by Florida in the first round (13th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
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-PANTHERS-
