Spencer Knight touches on competing with Sergei Bobrovsky for starts in Florida next season

Some have suggested that, heading into this season, there could be a bit of a goalie controversy in Florida with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight in a heated battle for who will emerge as the number one guy this year. Well, word coming out of Sunrise thus summer is that that simply isn't the case.

Mike Morreale, Staff Writer for NHL.com had a chance to catch up with Spencer Knight earlier in August at a charity ping-pong event called "Smashfest" and Knight couldn't have had better things to say about Bobrovsky and the type of mentor he's been during Knight's short stint in the NHL in 2020-21. He also touched on the fact that he doesn't feel as though there's a competition brewing, but rather a partnership forming.

"'Bob' was awesome to me [last season]. He was always really kind to me and welcoming. I would watch him ... he's someone I've watched on my own when I was really young. He was one of my favorite goalies to watch, so for me it's really cool.

"I'm not really looking at it as we're competing. I think we're on the same page and collectively trying to do what's best for the team and hopefully get better along the way."

Knight, who currently holds a 4-0-0 record at the NHL level during the regular season, received a pair of nods in the postseason as well, splitting his two opportunities against the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-1, winning his postseason debut 4-1 and making 36 saves, but losing his 2nd contest by a score of 4-0, allowing 3 goals on 24 shots the the 4th goal being of the empty-net variety.

Despite losing Game 6 of the Panthers' Round 1 series against the Bolts, Knight kept a pretty good outlook on the whole experience.

"I think for me the biggest thing was just going in and having fun," Knight said. "When you're in the moment you don't really think, you're just kind of going. And for me, and looking at next year, it's good to have that experience in knowing that you've been there and that, going forward, you can lean on that a little bit."

Bobrovsky, on the other end of things, could have just as easily taken exception to not being trusted to get the job done in an elimination game, however Panthers GM Bill Zito had nothing but good things to say about how Bobrovsky handled the whole situation, despite having a pair of Vezina Trophies to his credit.

"I thought he handled it like a professional and a friend," said Zito. "He was supportive. But that's how Bob is. I think to be anything less than that, he wouldn't feel dignified and would let himself down. I think he sincerely likes 'Spence' and understands, 'Hey, this is part of the game and things can change at any minute.' I think he was fully intending on preparing himself to get back in if or when that ever happened."

Whether Bobrovsky remains content with playing a mentorship role if he loses the net to Knight remains to be seen, but for now, Knight is focused on just keeping his head down and doing the best that he can and taking pointers from his veteran counterpart and keeping an open mind.

"I'm going in there with an open mind this season, and whatever happens, happens," Knight said. "You know, frankly, I wouldn't have thought I'd be in this position if you asked me six months ago if I would be here. So I'm really just trying to enjoy it and work hard."

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