Paul Maurice's Florida Panthers have their goaltender of the future locked up for the next four seasons. Entering training camp under contract for just this 2022-23 season, former Boston College star backstop Spencer Knight agreed to a three-year extension worth $13.5 million that will begin next season and keep him under contract through the 2025-26 calendar year.
"He's a good pro and puts a lot of time into being a good pro," Maurice said of his goaltender. "It doesn't take very long when you get out there with him to see how he moves in the net. He's real strong. It's a really good thing for this franchise to have two spectacular goalies at our disposal."
For a goaltender with just 36 NHL games to his name, a contract carrying an annual average value of $4.5 million is a hefty pill to swallow for a management team that is already paying its bellcow Sergei Bobrovsky $10.5 million through 2025-26 as well.
"Spencer is a phenomenal goaltender, as well as an exceptional athlete and person," Panthers' general manager Bill Zito said. "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."
Sure, he set the Panthers' rookie wins record last season, and seemingly managed alright behind a very talented offence and defence corps, but the real test will come once he is thrown into the full-time starter's role should an injury or disappointment play from Bobrovsky arise this season.
"I'm still the same person I was yesterday," Knight said of his new deal. "I'm still going to be the same person. It's just nice to just come to the rink and not have to worry about that for a couple years… We worked together. I thought it was a great process."
The 21-year-old was taken 13th overall back in 2019 and went on to post a 19-9-3 record with a 2.79 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts on the season last year.
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