Spencer Knight Expected To Make First Start for Blackhawks

Spencer Knight in net for the Florida Panthers

After a long-awaited blockbuster trade between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, new kid on the block Spencer Knight is expected to make his first start with his new club.

Seth Jones and the Blackhawks 2026 fourth-round draft selection were sent to the Panthers in exchange for Knight and the Panthers first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, depending on Florida owning a first-round selection in 2026.

Knight has started 21 games for the Panthers this year, bolstering a 12-8-1 record, with a .910 save percentage and 2.40 goals against average.

Spencer Knight has appeared in 80 NHL games in total, with a career 2.76 GAA and a .906 SV%.

Knight makes the start on his own terms, telling Charlie Roumeliotis, “I just want to play.”

Knight received the ever-so-coveted “starters net” in the team’s Monday morning skate and has been verified as the team’s starter for Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Spencer Knight will make his Chicago debut tonight at the United Center, 48 hours after the trade.

He said it was his desire to do so. He wanted to be thrown right into the fire: "I just want to play." #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 3, 2025