After missing the bulk of last season while spending time in the NHL’s player assistance program, Spencer Knight is set to return to team activities early next week.
According to a report from Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards, the 22-year-old will be attending Florida Panthers development camp — despite aging out — on a special exemption, marking the netminder’s first on-ice action with the club since late February.
While Florida’s 2019 first round selection would normally be ineligible to attend, Knight reportedly appealed, and was subsequently granted, the special provision by the NHL, allowing him to attend the camp in Coral Springs, FL. next week.
Knight entered the player assistance program on Feb. 24 and spent the final four months of the season in the program.
Panthers general manager Bill Zito also provided an update in mid-June on the netminder during an end-of-season press conference, expressing that he expected Knight to ultimately return this coming fall and compete for the backup role with Anthony Stolarz.
Prior to taking leave from the Panthers, Knight battled inconsistency during his sophomore season, posting a 9-8-3 record with a .901 save percentage and 3.18 GAA. In the lead-up to his demotion and subsequent placement into the program, Knight struggled mightily, posting a 1-4-0 record with an .853 save percentage and 4.58 GAA after Dec. 31.
Now heading into his third full season at the NHL level, the heir apparent to the crease in Sunrise is set to begin a three-year, $13.5 million dollar deal he signed last September.
Despite Knight’s absence, the Panthers saw tremendous success last season. The club earned their second-ever Stanley Cup Final berth — and first since 1996 — behind a remarkable postseason run from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, before bowing out to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
