Why the Blackhawks are so optimistic about new goalie Spencer Knight

CHICAGO The first shot Spencer Knight faced as a Chicago Blackhawks goalie was easy enough.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson put a shot on net from the left wall about 55 feet away.

Knight knocked the shot aside with his blocker 1:19 into the game.

It was all the easing Knight would be allowed in the opening period of his Blackhawks debut.

For the next 18-plus minutes, Knight got to work.

He saw quantity from the Kings.

He saw quality.

And for nearly all of the chances Anze Kopitar would beat him on an odd-man rush Knight was there to deny them.

He stopped 16 of the Kings 17 shots in the opening period.

To compare, he faced 18 total shots in his last start for the Florida Panthers.

Advertisement He was awesome, Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy said.

We didnt make it easy on him.

Good thing he was warm going into that game because that start we gave him two-on-os and backdoor plays and everything and he stood tall.

You can tell hes determined, and its not easy to be that focused in a new environment.

Moving Seth Jones and most of his contract and obtaining a first-round draft pick were important components to the Blackhawks deal with the Panthers on Saturday, but just as exciting for Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson was acquiring Knight.

Davidsons rebuild plan has had plenty of forwards and defensemen for him to draw hope from, but there wasnt a true face to the future of the Blackhawks goaltending.

Knight serves that.

From Knights age (23) to pedigree (2019 first-round pick) to size (6-foot-3, 191 pounds) to ability, the Blackhawks believe Knight has the making of an elite NHL goalie.

Hes got the whole package, Blackhawks goaltending scout Dan Ellis said on Monday.

When you look at the size, the technical approach, the skating, even his puck handling is something thats underrated as well.

...

Hes got all the physical attributes.

Like I said, his game has really improved in terms of adding pace.

Technically, hes very sound.

He sees pucks extremely well.

He tracks pucks well.

Hes got strong lateral movement.

Hes an impressive prospect.

Ellis helped Davidson advise in acquiring Knight.

You can say Ellis is somewhat of an expert on Knight.

Ive watched Spencer for a long time ever since his draft year, when he played for the (USA Hockey National Team Development) Program and when he was drafted by Florida, Ellis said.

I followed his career as he went to Boston College.

Followed him when hes been with Florida, been with Charlotte, even through the course of this season, just staying up to date on him.

He is easily one of the best people that Ive ever come in contact with in my eight years of scouting.

His personality, his work ethic, his knowledge of the game, its second to none.

Advertisement That matches his on-ice abilities.

Hes a big, 6-foot-3, very athletic, technically sound goaltender who has had the ability to learn from some of the best goalies to play the game in (Sergei) Bobrovsky and (Roberto) Luongo.

Extremely excited to get a player like him and think the potential is outstanding.

Those words came to life in Knights debut on Monday.

The Kings shot quantity did decrease a bit over the course of the game, but it may not have mattered either way.

Knight was dialed in from start to finish.

Wearing his Panthers goalie helmet and pads, Knight wound up with 41 saves on 42 shots and picked up his first win as the Blackhawks defeated the Kings 5-1 at the United Center.

Knight is hopeful its just the start of something special with the Blackhawks.

I said it, no matter how smoothly things are going, the first week or so is going to feel like chaos, Knight said after the game.

Thats just the way it is.

But I think Ive learned to embrace that.

Ive been through a lot of difficult challenges in my life.

Its another step in the journey.

I think Im looking to bring what I witnessed and was part of in Florida, bring it here.

I said because I dont care if were in first place or last place or anywhere between, come to the rink and play to win every night.

Thats my motto, at least, going forward.

Im here to build a championship-winning team whether thats a year, two years, five, I dont know.

To take a closer look at Knights game, The Athletics goalie expert Jesse Granger broke down Knights play during his Blackhawks debut.

Granger: Knights superb puck tracking and mental processing were on full display in his Chicago debut.

The Kings applied heaps of pressure in the opening minutes, but Knight stood tall and did an exceptional job following the puck through chaotic situations.

The first example came on this sprawling stop on Warren Foegeles rebound attempt.

Watch how quickly Knight finds the puck after the knuckling shot from the point bounced off his glove awkwardly.

Not only does he find the puck immediately, but theres very little lag time between finding it and reacting.

His processing speed is really impressive here.

Knight has already rotated his hips back toward the post and begun his butterfly slide before the puck even gets to Foegeles stick.

Those milliseconds he shaved off that movement ended up being the difference between a save and a goal, as he just barely got a piece of the shot.

Knight robbed Foegele again later in the period, and again showed off those puck tracking skills.

First, Knight stuffed Foegeles initial drive.

The way he slides across calmly and efficiently without losing balance is a great example of the movement skills Ellis mentioned.

The first two saves were made with sound technique and balance.

Then Knight turned into an athlete, swiping the puck out of mid air just before Phillip Danault could get his stick on it.

The key to it all is he never lost visual attachment to the puck.

Finally, this sequence of saves later in the first period shows off a lot of what makes Knight an elite talent.

He again tracks the puck well off his body after stopping a wobbly slap shot by Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson, and his reaction to the rebound is technical perfection.

First, the speed in which Knight recovers to his edges is absurd.

He pops up with both feet simultaneously, which saves time, and has already dug the toe of his right skate into the ice preparing for movement before the puck has even bounced on the ice a second time.

That quick recovery sets him up to attack Foegeles rebound attempt rather than simply stretching or sprawling on his side.

Knight stays on top of the puck, crowding it with his glove and body positioning which is all working toward the puck throughout the save while he seals the ice with his left pad.

Advertisement This level of technical precision in what could easily become a messy scramble situation is exactly why Knight is touted as a future franchise goalie.

His processing speed is clearly improving as he gains NHL experience, which bodes well for his development moving forward.

(Photo: Matt Marton / USA Today Network via Imagn Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.