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The Chicago Blackhawks announced they have signed goaltender Spencer Knight to a three-year, $5.83-million per season contract extension

Knight’s contract will kick in at the start of the 2026-27 campaign. He is entering the final year of his three-year, $4.5-million deal that he signed with the Florida Panthers in September 2022.

The Darien, Conn. native is coming off his first season with the Blackhawks. He was traded to Chicago from Florida on March 1 as part of the deal that saw defenseman Seth Jones move to the Panthers.

Since joining his new team, Knight has made 15 starts, registering a 5-8-2 record. With that, he’s put up a 3.18 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. 

The below-average numbers don’t tell the whole story, as he had six games where he recorded at least a .915 SP. That includes his impressive Hawks debut, a 41-save victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

“After joining the team in March, Spencer quickly cemented himself as a crucial piece of our future,” Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said. 

“A talented, young goaltender, he brings athleticism, sound positioning and a calm demeanor to his game, and we’re excited to watch Spencer continue to flourish in Chicago over the next four seasons.”

Last year was Knight’s first season back in the NHL after he voluntarily entered the NHL and NHLPA’s player assistance program to seek help and combat a case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Since joining the program in late February 2023, he transitioned back into professional hockey with one season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He played 45 games in that 2023-24 campaign, recording a 2.41 GAA and a .905 SP.

Despite all the obstacles he had to face in his personal life that ultimately affected his hockey career, he’s set to be the starter for Chicago and to cement himself as one of the better young goalies in the NHL.

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CHICAGO - Rookie camp is in the books for the Chicago Blackhawks. A full roster of prospects came to Chicago to prepare ahead of the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. This event features the Chicago Blackhawks alongside the hosting Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. 

Before traveling to Minnesota, the Blackhawks prospects had one final practice on Saturday morning for any fine-tuning ahead of the showcase. 

Throughout the week, there were a lot of noteworthy moments from players on the roster looking to get noticed by the decision makers at the top of the organization. Of every player on the prospect roster, these five stood out above the rest: 

AJ Spellacy

There wasn't a more noticeable player during the rookie camp than AJ Spellacy. He had a mediocre year in terms of production last year in the OHL, but he has the tools to be an impactful NHL player, whether he is scoring or not. 

Spellacy was not afraid to mix it up during camp, even though he was going against players who were on the same team as him. When he is competing, he is giving it his all, no matter what. 

"I think you need to have high intensity and stuff like this. It just brings everyone together. Even when you're battling against a guy, you get off the ice and you're best buddies."

Spellacy was noticeable during the preseason last year before being shipped back to the OHL, and now he is looking to take his game to the pro level one way or another. 

Sam Rinzel

It would be fair to leave off anyone who played in the NHL last season, which would apply to guys like Artyom Levshunov, Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, and Sam Rinzel. However, Rinzel was too noticeable during camp to ignore.

He is a step above his peers around his age. Whether they are working on the power play units, even strength play, or killing penalties, he is an impact player.

This is a highly drafted, incredibly gifted player who still believes that he has to earn a spot on the team. After the way he ended last year and is starting camp, he feels like a lock to make the NHL roster. The fact that he feels he still needs to earn it tells you that the compete-level is there for him to be better than great. 

Rinzel's impact during camp suggests that he will make a difference during the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, which will prepare him even further for training camp and the regular season ahead. 

Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis scored 71 goals in the OHL last season. Then he showed up to rookie camp this week and looked like one of the top snipers in the organization. As he prepared for the showcase in Minnesota, Lardis was a standout player. 

It is expected that Lardis will play with Marek Vanacker and Oliver Moore, which is the team's number one forward line. Vanacker and Moore are former first-round picks with great playmaking ability, and Lardis earned the right to play with them as the primary sniper on the line. 

"It's good. We built some chemistry over the past couple of days. It's a fast line. Those two guys are really fast. We just have to use our speed to our advantage. Our skill and playmaking will take over." 

Of every line that the Blackhawks are going to run out there, this one will be the highest octane with the most speed and skill. Expect them to follow up a big week of practice with big performances in the games, led by Nick Lardis. 

Nathan Behm

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Nathan Behm with their third-round (66th overall) pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. So far, he has made that look like a sensational pick. He was one of their most noticeable players throughout the week, and now he will be a big part of their lineup in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. 

Behm is a big player who used his size to bring physicality and skill to the group. While playing on a line with Spellacy and Martin Misiak, he scored goals during scrimmages, set up his linemates, and was hard to play against from a physical standpoint. 

You don't see big players who are as skilled or as fast as Behm come through as often. He believed that he had a good camp, based on his comments to the media following practices, and that confidence could be what he needed to continue improving his game going into 2025-26. 

Marek Vanacker

Marek Vanacker was already mentioned when talking about Nick Lardis, because they will be linemates alongside Oliver Moore. 

Vanacker, who wasn't able to participate in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase last year because of an injury, showed up in a big way this time around. There were multiple instances where he drove play on that speedy line. 

The former first-round pick is going to be a net-front presence/down low forward on the power play as well, so his impact should be felt in the games as much as it was during practice. The former first-round pick has a ton of talent and is expected to be a difference-maker going forward. 

The Blackhawks will begin the showcase on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues at 6 PM. On Sunday, they will take on the Minnesota Wild at 3 PM. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

On Saturday morning, not long after wrapping up rookie camp, the Chicago Blackhawks announced the extension of goaltender Spencer Knight. 

Chicago acquired Knight ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline in the deal that sent defenseman Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers. Now, they have a great young goalie locked up for a handful of years. 

This is a three-year deal worth $17.5 million with a cap hit of $5.83 million. There is a 15-team no-trade list that kicks in during the third year of the deal. Knight will play 2025-26 on his previous contract, and then the new one will kick in next year. 

“After joining the team in March, Spencer quickly cemented himself as a crucial piece of our future,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson. “A talented, young goaltender, he brings athleticism, sound positioning, and a calm demeanor to his game, and we’re excited to watch Spencer continue to flourish in Chicago over the next four seasons.”

If Knight plays well in a Blackhawks uniform going forward, as he did when he first arrived in 2024-25, they will begin to take steps as a franchise. The skaters in front of him are only getting better, which should lead to the rise of the team as a whole now that their goaltending is figured out. 

Being a former first-round pick, a player with his name on the Stanley Cup, and a World Junior Champion, he has a lot of big-time experience on his resume. That knowledge will go a long way in helping the players who are part of the core with him now. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announces Brady Martin is selected as the fifth overall pick to the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It wasn’t a regular-season game, or even a pre-season contest with veterans present, but a win is a win.

The Nashville Predators prospects played their first of three games in four days in the NHL Prospect Tournament Friday afternoon and came away with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning prospects at AdventHealth Center Ice in Tampa.

It was an all-around team effort, as Joakim Kemell, Andrew Gibson and Brady Martin each tallied a goal in the victory for the Preds, who hosted last year’s prospect showcase. Martin also picked up an assist for two points on the evening.

Ethan Haider started in net for Nashville before giving way to Jakub Milota just over halfway through the game. Each netminder only gave up one goal in the victory.

As expected, both teams were a bit rusty through the first several minutes. After Tampa Bay scored first on the man advantage in the opening period, Martin got the puck to Kemell at the top of the right circle. The winger from Finland didn’t miss, going top-shelf to tie the game 1-1.

“I thought a lot of guys played well, and you can see some of the younger guys were a little nervous in the first but then settled in,” Milwaukee Admirals head coach Karl Taylor told reporters after the game. “The nice part was, as the game went on, we started sticking together a little better, just supporting each other and cheering and activating on the bench.”

After Martin was prevented from completing a breakaway, the fifth overall draft pick was awarded a penalty shot. He went wide to the right before cutting back and nailing a shot from the slot to the low blocker side for a 2-1 Preds lead. That lead held up after two periods.

Brady Martin cashin' in on a penalty shot 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/hBQww1O9LS

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) September 12, 2025

Martin, who helped Team Canada defeat the U.S. in the World Junior Showcase last month, continues to show a maturity beyond his years.

“I was kind of just coming in, and I was going to deke, but then the ice was kind of bad, so I was like, I'll just shoot it,” Martin said of his penalty shot. “And kind of just eyeballed it, I guess.”

The Lightning tied the game midway through the final period, but Gibson fired a shot from the right point that found its way through traffic and tickled the twine for what proved to be the winning goal.

The Preds held off a late push by Tampa including a penalty kill to earn the win and start off the prospect tournament on a high note.

“The guys really want to win,” Taylor said. “When you're in these scenarios, you want to do well. The guys bond together. They've been together for a while through drafts and development camps and the rest of it. So, it's a fun place to coach, and there's not a lot of pressure to it. We just want to enjoy and make sure everybody gets an opportunity.”

The Predators will play their second game of the tournament Saturday afternoon against the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop is slated for 1 Pm CT, and the game will be streamed live at NashvillePredators.com.

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St. Louis Blues defensive prospect Adam Jiricek has continued to add muscle to his frame and hopes to utilize that weight to compete at training camp. 

Matthew DeFranks spoke with the 19-year-old who claims he has added 25 pounds since he was drafted 16th overall by the Blues in the 2024 NHL Draft. Currently listed at 6-foot-3, 178 pounds, the added weight will do Jiricek wonders as he competes for a roster spot and for his health.

"I go to the gym, and they already have the plan ready. I’m just doing what they told me to do," said Jiricek. 

The 2024-25 campaign was marred by injuries, limiting Jiricek to just 27 games in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs; however, Jiricek is now healthy and ready to play hockey regularly.

"I feel great right now," Jiricek said at the Blues development camp in July. "I'm 100 percent healthy, so I enjoy coming here. I'm playing hockey, which is what I like to do."

Jiricek acknowledges that earning a spot on the Blues roster is a tall task, but he's hoping to do his best to make the decision as difficult as possible. If/when Jiricek is sent back to the Bulldogs, the Klatovy, CZE native will rejoin a Bulldogs roster that should be among the top competitors for the OHL Championship.

The Bulldogs lost Chicago Blackhawks Nick Lardis and Washington Capitals' Patrick Thomas, but the team still features Seattle Kraken 2025 top 10 pick Jake O'Brien, Blackhawks Marek Vanacker and Minnesota Wild's Adam Benak.

"I will go to camp in September and see what happens," Jiricek said. "My goal is to stay here in St. Louis, but if that's not going to happen, we'll see what's going to be next. But I will do my best to stay here. I know there is good players here, but my job is to fight to try and stay here."

Including his participation in the OHL season, Jiricek will likely play a key role on Team Czechia's World Junior Championship roster. At last year's event, Jiricek recorded five assists in seven games, leading Team Czechia in points by a defenseman. 

The 2025-26 campaign will be a vital season for Jiricek. He needs to prove that he can stay healthy, but also that despite the injuries, his development hasn't been stunted. 

Last night in the opener of the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, Jiricek scored and was a difference maker from the backend. It was the formula the Blues want Jiricek to continue to replicate. 

This week's Edmonton Oilers Friday Faceoff is loaded with news as rookie camp and games begin, Hockey Canada players are reinstated, and big-name free agents make big-time decisions. 

Of course, everyone is still waiting on Connor McDavid. He's getting ready for the season and walking out with country stars at concerts in front of Edmonton fans. 

Let's get to it...

Oilers Star Leon Draisaitl Leaves Quiz Show Players Baffled

Carter Hart Nearing NHL Return, Eyes U.S. Team Over Oilers

Carter Hart is among the five Hockey Canada players the NHL and NHLPA have reinstated this season. Hart is expected to have an NHL deal in place by October 1, though he can’t officially sign until October 15, reports Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

While the Philadelphia Flyers are not an option, Hart is prioritizing a fresh start with a U.S.-based team where he can get meaningful starts and join a contender. That rules out all Canadian markets, including speculation about his hometown Edmonton Oilers. 

Hart is projected to sign a two- or three-year deal, with reinstatement terms allowing him to do conditioning stints as early as mid-November. He’s eligible to return to the NHL by early December. While Oilers fans speculated about Hart as a solution to Edmonton’s goalie concerns, if he's not prepared to subject himself to the scrutiny of playing in a Canadian market, the Oilers aren't an option. 

It was never made known that the Oilers were actually interested, with some reports saying they were not. 

Fleury’s PTO Will Spark Mid-Season Goalie Speculation With OilersThe Pittsburgh Penguins recently announced that legendary goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will return to the organization on a professional tryout (PTO) contract. The signing and pre-season event does not mean Fleury is coming out of retirement or making an NHL comeback, but that won't stop fans of the Edmonton Oilers from making assumptions and connecting some dots.

Fleury Looks Out For the Oilers, Too

It appears Marc-Andre Fleury is also not an option for the Oilers. He signed a professional tryout (PTO)  on Friday to play an exhibition game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, seemingly done as a way to say a proper goodbye to the team and fans with whom he started his NHL career. 

If Fleury is making decisions like this and lining up his final skates, it seems he's firmly sticking with his decision to retire. The Oilers were thought of as a team that might be open mid-season for a goalie upgrade, and if Fleury wanted one last run and to come out of retirement, the fit made sense. 

Corey Perry Injured

Former Edmonton Oilers forward and now Los Angeles Kings forward Corey Perry may have suffered an injury during an on-ice workout at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo on Friday, sources report.  

He was helped off the ice with the assistance of a wheelchair, and it's unknown how severe the injury is at this time. He’s being evaluated further and has no timetable for a return. An update may not be given until Kings' training camp opens.

Kaprizov Turns Down $16M Per Season

Kirill Kaprizov’s contract talks with the Minnesota Wild have become one of the NHL’s hottest storylines, overshadowing Connor McDavid’s pending extension. Reports, including one from NHL Trade Talk, suggest Kaprizov rejected an eight-year, $16 million-per-year deal, though GM Bill Guerin denied a formal offer or reports that Kaprizov said no. 

Sources indicate Kaprizov seeks $18–$19 million annually, aiming for 20 percent of the salary cap. His camp is waiting on McDavid’s deal to shape the market, with speculation that rival teams might pay more. The Wild remain committed to keeping him long-term, but with rising cap space and pressure from McDavid’s decision, Kaprizov’s next contract could redefine NHL superstar salaries.

Oilers Have Two Deals Ready To Go Once McDavid Signs

Edmonton Oilers insider Bob Stauffer is reporting that top-four defenseman Jake Walman could receive a six-year deal, while winger Vasily Podkolzin is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Oilers once the McDavid deal is done and officially signed. 

Walman, 29, is entering the final year of a $3.4 million contract and some thought the Oilers might go for an eight-year deal, using upcoming changes to the CBA and term lengths as leverage. But, because those changes won't come into effect until after next July 1, the Oilers can't exclusively offer Walman two extra seasons on a UFA deal.

Stauffer projects Walman’s six-year deal will fall in the “sixes,” meaning he'll get at least $6 million per season. 

Prime Minister Weighs In On McDavid Contract Drama in Edmonton

 Oilers Remain Patient on McDavid... But How Patient?

While the McDavid contract situation remains unresolved, insiders and hosts continue to chime in with their takes on what he might do. A recent take by Spittin’ Chiclets podcast host Keith Yandle this week included him saying, “I think he should wait the whole year, whether he wants to sign long-term there or not.”

Arguing that Connor McDavid has earned the right to take his time on a contract extension, Yandle believes McDavid should play out the season first. 

While many believe the Oilers could still trade McDavid at the draft if they had to, letting him get past the trade deadline feels like a non-starter for the Oilers.

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