Spencer Knight has already found a home with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024-25 NHL season. After arriving at Windy City to join Connor Bedard and the struggling Hawks, Knight has now learned who the Florida Panthers will be replacing him with in the lineup as they gear up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Both parties involved in the Seth Jones trade, which included Knight, are already moving on and focusing on their own NHL seasons. Regardless, it’s only natural that they might still look back at their former teams and take interest in their whereabouts.
Knight, a beloved backup once poised to become the Cats’ future starting goalie, was shipped off to Chicago. Now, he has learned who will take his place in the reigning Stanley Cup champions’ locker room.
The Florida Panthers have confirmed a trade for San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek in exchange for AHLer Patrick Giles, via AP’s Tim Reynolds.
Spencer Knight #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks tends the net against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the United Center on March 03, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
This trade is somewhat of a sequel to the Jones-Knight deal, in which the Panthers lost their backup goalie and were left in desperate need of a second option to man their crease.
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Vanecek’s stats
Vanecek’s numbers during the 2024-25 NHL season are far from great, but they may have been significantly impacted by the Sharks’ disastrous season, as they remain dead last in the league.
Vanecek has a 3-10-3 record through the season, posting a subpar 3.88 goals against average (GAA) and .882 save percentage. The Panthers hope those numbers are inflated due to the poor team around the goalie in San Jose. At the moment, Vanecek will have to battle it out with Chris Driedger for the backup role behind Sergei Bobrovsky,
Vitek Vanecek #41 of the San Jose Sharks in action against the Utah Hockey Club at SAP Center on December 14, 2024 in San Jose, California.
Bedard welcomes Knight
Spencer Knight played lights out during his debut wearing the Blackhawks sweater, stopping 41 of 42 shots enroute to a 5-1 victory. Bedard talked about the young goalie prior to the game, as Chicago may have found their crease minder for the future.
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“Obviously a very high pick and a young goalie who’s excited for a fresh start,” Bedard said, via Charlie Roumeliotis. “Super talented, so we’re excited to have him. It’s good, he got to come today and get on the ice and kind of get that feeling out. Obviously we’re thrilled to have him.”
