A significant trade unfolded between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers. The deal saw the Hawks parting ways with defenseman Seth Jones along with a 2026 4th-round pick in exchange for Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 1st-round pick. In the quest to reclaim former greatness, the addition of Knight is significant for the franchise, especially considering his recent achievement of winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers last year.

Nonetheless, what is the situation with Knight? What was his response to this major trade? Ben Pope, the beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks, relayed the goaltender’s comments regarding the trade, noting, “Spencer Knight on his reaction to the trade: “I didn’t really have any words. But you talk to people close to you, you move on and you keep moving forward. But I’m lucky to come to a great organization.’ He said it was his choice to start tonight.”

The goaltender expressed his own surprise in his statement. Indeed, the Panthers are a strong contender for the Stanley Cup this season as well, and given the success he experienced with the team last campaign, it must have felt quite unusual for him to be traded. As if losing a Cup-winning goalie wasn’t enough, Florida now faces another blow—Matthew Tkachuk is out for the regular season, thanks to a poorly timed groin injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Talk about tough luck. But what are Spencer’s statistics with the Panthers?

Selected by the franchise in the 2019 NHL draft, he has since appeared in 80 games for the team. Knight boasts an impressive save percentage of .906. Nonetheless, he expresses enthusiasm for the new chapter ahead with the Blackhawks. Indeed, Knight recognized the Hawks’ legacy in the NHL and expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming time with the new franchise.

The Blackhawks currently feature three active goaltenders on their roster, including Knight. Who are the remaining two individuals? Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom are the names in focus. Acquiring Knight has sparked optimism for general manager Kyle Davidson, who reportedly had his sights set on the goaltender during the 2019 NHL draft.

Additionally, coach Anders Sörensen remarked, “Lots of potential, right? You see his background, watching him come up here, lots of potential, a first-rounder for a reason. He has his career on track here and we’re super excited for him and (he could) be a bona fide No. 1 here.” The franchise expresses enthusiasm about his arrival, yet they faced the difficult decision to part ways with their star defenseman, who has now joined the Panthers.

Letting Seth Jones go for Spencer Knight

For the Chicago Blackhawks, every move they make in the effort to rebuild the franchise carries significant risk. It is evident that they have faced ongoing challenges in the NHL, and the fans are gradually losing their sense of optimism with each passing day. However, acquiring someone like Spencer Knight could be the right choice for the team moving forward.

In the wake of this trade, the team parted ways with Seth Jones, prompting coach Anders Sorenson to comment, “Seth is a pro, great guy in the locker room, so we’ll miss him.” In 2021, Jones secured an impressive eight-year contract worth $76 million. Chicago may have moved on from Seth Jones, but their wallet sure hasn’t—26% of his contract still lingers like an expensive ghost of the past. Nonetheless, the objectives extended far beyond mere financial gain for the defenseman.

Certainly, the Blackhawks represent a storied legacy, and Jones aimed for a revival to restore them to their rightful place at the pinnacle of the standings. Nevertheless, this specific objective remained unachieved throughout his time with the team, a fact that clearly elicited his frustration. Recall when Jones remarked, “I still have some good years ahead. I want to hope to maybe be in a situation where I’m competing for a Stanley Cup, at least playing some meaningful games in May and hopefully June.”

As he approaches the twilight of his career at just 30, Jones is eager to align himself with a team capable of delivering results on the ice and competing against the league’s top contenders. Ultimately, he has now joined the Florida Panthers.