George Richards, FHN Publisher
The Florida Panthers will get a glimpse of their future in goal Tuesday night when Spencer Knight makes his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Knight was activated by the team to the main roster a few times since he joined the team late last month.
But when the Panthers had him dressed and backing up Sergei Bobrovsky on Monday night, speculation he would get into his first NHL game rose.
Coach Joel Quenneville figured as much.
”Good chance he’s starting tomorrow,” Quenneville said in his way of saying that Knight is definitely playing.
Knight has been with the Panthers since leaving Boston College following the end of his sophomore season last month.
The 13th overall pick of the 2018 NHL draft by the Panthers, Knight had a storied amateur career both at the prep level as well as at Boston College and for Team USA.
In January, he outdueled fellow Florida prospect Devon Levi to lead the United States to Gold in the World Junior finals.
After Boston College’s season came to a close one win from the Frozen Four, Knight took a couple days before officially signing with the Panthers.
“To me, this doesn’t even seem real yet,” Knight said when he signed. “I remember growing up watching the NHL from 4-, 5-years-old and it seemed like a far-off Fantasyland sometimes.
“I don’t realize what I am doing right now but once I get there, see who is around me it will be pretty cool to take it all in. … It is going to be pretty cool, very unique. It doesn’t seem real and I still think it is some … unreachable goal.
“It is obviously right in front of me, but I’m not going to look too far ahead. I am going to stay in the moment. These are the kinds of moments people look back on and cherish for the rest of their lives. I am going to try and enjoy every single moment of it.”
Well, Sunrise isn’t Fantasyland, but it’ll have to do.
Quenneville said that Knight’s resume over the course of his career, not to mention what he has done on the ice since joining the team, gives him no pause to give the 20-year-old his start.
Knight’s birthday, by the way, was Monday.
Happy birthday, kid.
“He has handled some big situations and he has handled them like ‘hey, it’s the next challenge in life’,” Quenneville continued following Florida’s 4-2 win over Columbus, one in which Bobrovsky made 34 saves.
“He has done everything he can to prepare for this opportunity. As an organization, we’re looking forward to it as well. In practice, nothing bothers him. He’s very cool in net. He has seen a lot of shooters at our level here.
”It’s not a game (situation) but he has seen some meaningful challenges.
”Tomorrow will be fun. Get that first one, first taste of his career. We’re looking forward to it as well.”