Spencer Knight

Spencer Knight (born April 19, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Panthers, 13th overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
==Playing career==
Ranked as the top eligible goaltender in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Knight was the first goaltender chosen, selected 13th overall by the Florida Panthers. It marked the first time in franchise history that Florida chose a goaltender in the first round.
Knight played collegiate hockey with the Boston College Eagles in the Hockey East. He emerged during his freshman year as one of the NCAA's top netminders, earning a top-10 finish in the Mike Richter Award voting with his 1.97 GAA, .931 SV%, and 23–8–2 record over 33 games, along with 5 shutouts. He also was named to the conference All-Rookie team and Second All-Star Team.
He excelled again during his sophomore season with a 2.18 GAA and .932 SV%, going 16–4–1 in 21 games with 3 shutouts during the COVID-19 pandemic-abbreviated year. Knight's performance earned a number of accolades; he was named a CCM/ACHA First Team All-American, a top 3 finalist for the Mike Richter Award and a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He earned conference Player of the Year and Goaltending Champion honors and was a Hockey East First Team All-Star.
Following his sophomore season with Boston College, Knight left college and signed with the Florida Panthers to a three-year, entry-level contract on March 31, 2021. On April 20, Knight made his NHL debut and earned his first win with a 5–1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also became the first goaltender born in the 21st century to play in the NHL. After securing a 5–4 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars on May 2, Knight became the youngest goaltender in NHL history to start their career 4–0.
Knight made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut on May 24, in Game 5 of the Panthers' first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Down 3–1 in the series, he was given the start over both Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger in an attempt to stave off elimination. Just 53 seconds into the game, Knight allowed a goal on his first shot faced. However, he made 36 straight saves afterwards en route to a 4–1 victory. In doing so, Knight became the second youngest goaltender ever to win their postseason debut, and was also the very first goaltender to appear in both the Stanley Cup playoffs and the NCAA Tournament in the same calendar year. However, the Panthers would be eliminated in the next game, ultimately falling 4–2 in the series to the Lightning.
==International play==
Knight was the starting goaltender for the United States at the 2021 World Juniors played in Edmonton, Alberta. Knight posted a 1.63 GAA and a .940 SV%, he started seven games and went 6–1 during the tournament, including wins in all three playoff rounds and a 2–0 shutout of Canada in the gold medal game to give the US its fifth title.
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
 	 	 		Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season		Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	OT 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV% 		GP 	W 	L 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV%
2017–18 	U.S. National Development Team	USHL 		19 	13 	4 	0 	982 	52 	0 	3.18 	.902 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2018–19 	U.S. National Development Team	USHL 		16 	15 	1 	0 	841 	31 	1 	2.21 	.903 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2019–20 	Boston College 	HE 		33 	23 	8 	2 	1,979 	65 	5 	1.97 	.931 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2020–21 	Boston College 	HE 		21 	16 	4 	1 	1,296 	47 	3 	2.18 	.932 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2020–21 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 		4 	4 	0 	0 	207 	8 	0 	2.32 	.919 		2 	1 	1 	116 	4 	0 	2.06 	.933
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals		4 	4 	0 	0 	207 	8 	0 	2.32 	.919 		2 	1 	1 	116 	4 	0 	2.06 	.933
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	Result 		GP	W 	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA 	SV%
2019 	United States	U18 	 		6 	5 	1	0	357	9 	1 	1.51	.936
2020 	United States	WJC 	6th 		4 	2 	2	0	241	10	0 	2.49	.913
2021 	United States	WJC 	 		7 	6 	1	0	332	9 	3 	1.63	.940
Junior totals	Junior totals	Junior totals	Junior totals		17	19	5	0	930	28	4 	1.87	.930
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards and honors==
Award 	Year 	
College 	College	College
HE All-Rookie Team 	2019–20	
HE Second All-Star Team 	2019–20	
New England D1 All-Stars 	2019–20	
AHCA East First Team All-American	2020–21	
==References==
Category:2001 births
Category:American men's ice hockey goaltenders
Category:Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players
Category:Florida Panthers draft picks
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players