We’ve already talked a good amount here about the marvelous start to the season the Blackhawks have enjoyed from goaltender Spencer Knight.
Knight, 24, has started 10 of the Blackhawks’ first 14 games. Among goalies who have appeared in at least 5 games this season, Knight ranks fourth in save percentage (.919) and 11th in goals against average (2.56). Of course, GAA is a function of the number of shots he’s facing. And we don’t need to look much further than Wednesday night’s win to see a performance where he authored a “goalie win” for the Blackhawks.
So, should Knight be in the conversation for a spot on the United States’ roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics? Let’s get into it.
David Banks-Imagn ImagesSpencer Knight: Olympian?
I referenced where Knight ranks among NHL goaltenders (min. 5 games played) thru Wednesday night’s games already. I cropped the save percentage rankings because I think Nos. 3 and 4 overall start to build the foundation for a compelling argument:
Hockey Reference calculates Goalie Point Shares (GPS), which they define as “an estimate of the number of points contributed by a player due to his play in goal.” Thru Wednesday night’s performance in Vancouver, Knight leads the entire NHL with 2.8 GPS.
MoneyPuck shares a number of their own metrics, including Goals Saved Above Expected. As you can see below, Knight ranks second in the league behind Lukas Dostal in that metric.
Source: MoneyPuckI already know based on the title of this piece that there are going to be people who jump straight to the comments to remind me that Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger exist.
The conversation I want to have is about how Knight stacks up against the other options for the US: Jeremy Swayman, Thatcher Demko and Joey Daccord.
I won’t deny that Hellebuyck and Oettinger are the present for the United States.
The United States will undoubtedly ride Hellebuyck and Oettinger in the 2026 tournament. But, if the US wants to send the three best goalies at the time, Knight is making a case to be one of the three.
Also remember there will be another Olympic roster to start considering already for 2030. Hellebuyck turns 33 in May. Oettinger turns 27 in December. Swayman turns 27 later this month. Demko turns 30 in early December. Daccord turned 29 in August.
Knight won’t turn 25 until April 19.
Not only is Knight playing as well or better than the other top options at this point, but he’s younger. That might make him a viable option to be one of the top two netminders on the roster in four years when he’s still only 29.
Knight’s Previous International Success
Only five goalies have been drafted in the first round of an NHL draft since Knight in 2019. None of them has been drafted higher than 13th overall, where Florida selected Knight. The last time a goalie was drafted higher than Knight was Jack Campbell, who went 11th overall to the Dallas Stars in 2010.
Knight was the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft because of his exceptional play for the US at the USNTDP and strong performances at U17 and U18 tournaments the season leading up to that draft. In the years that followed, Knight went on to star at Boston College and internationally for the United States as well.
In 2021, Knight pitched a brilliant shutout in the gold medal game at the World Junior Championship. The 2-0 victory — with a US roster that included future Blackhawks forward Landon Slaggert — closed a spectacular tournament for Knight. He went 5-1-0 with three shutouts and a .940 save percentage in six games.
Knight’s play to start the 2025-26 season has been terrific. He’s playing like the young man who was viewed by many as one of the better goaltending prospects in recent years when his draft class came together.
Again, if the United States is looking to send the three best goaltenders at the time, Knight should be squarely in that conversation at this point. If they’re also considering the future, Knight’s age, pedigree, and international success should give him a very strong case to pack his bags for Italy in February.
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