Upcoming Spencer Knight decision

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I feel like between the memes and 30% of our board losing interest after the Cup, this is the one constant. Just to give some background, there was some discussion in the Flames game thread about "why would Florida trade Knight now". They won't, salaries are pro-rated during the season and so his contract is currently a non-issue for whatever Zito wants to do at the TDL. Where they'll run into trouble is during the off-season. Ekblad and Bennett are UFA. The cap is increasing but IMO as is I'm not sure there'd be enough to keep both. Where things get interesting is due to Knight's age, his buyout actually helps Florida a lot:

If Knight is bought out:
2025-2026 cap hit-750k, meaning Florida frees up 3.75 million
2026-2027 cap hit-750k

If Knight is kept:
2025-2026 cap hit-4.5 million
After the 2026 season, Knight would be an RFA, with 4 years left of control under Florida. Because he is making over $1 million, his qualifying offer MUST be at least 100% of what he's making, meaning his next contract could not be under 4.5 million AAV. Zito could decline to offer him a QO and try to bring back Knight at a lesser price, but if no QO is put out by Florida, Knight is UFA and can sign elsewhere if he wants.

What's everyone's thoughts here? I've made it clear before I 100% buy into the rumors that Knight played hardball with the March 2021 ELC and would only sign with assurances he'd be guaranteed playing time. Which I honestly don't have a problem with, but he's been kinda mid to bad his whole career? Like for me if you're making demands, you have to deliver. Or at least have a working glove hand. I don't fault him at all for the September 2022 extension, Zito was smoking the good stuff for sure when he gave that contract.

Also lost in all this is Bobrovsky will be a UFA after the 2026 season at age 38. I have no idea if he'll want to continue his career or if that's it, or if Florida even wants him back.

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[Gentle Man]

Traded in March

 

[I am not exposed]

Don't re-sign Ekblad.

Maybe the fans of this board started attending the games! Most likely most just enjoyed pain and punishment and now we're good it is not as much fun to complain.

 

[Sticksandsun]

Knight - put him on the block, see who calls. If you have to retain a bit and get a late 2nd for him? What's his value?
His mental workload is what scares me off from him, still extremely young as well.

Tough call but not sure Zito has time to wait to see if he can handle 50 or so games. I will be shocked if Knight is here long term or staying for another contract.

Bobrovsky - talk to him in July, see what his plan is then and if he plans on playing for another contract after this one.
I personally think he's done after this deal is up, he got his Cup, 2 Vezinas and made a lot of money.
Maybe he goes on LTIR the final year while Zito finds a replacement and Bob comes back post deadline for one final run?

If he plans on playing a few more years, you trade him with one year left with retention and pray for a decent return while he still has the Cup aura around him.

We've know for a while about fixing the defense but the goaltending actually seems like a bigger focus this July.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Keep the Bob-Knight tandem, as Knight's value isn't gonna get you what you want. Bob will need a successor soon, see how Knight does next season, he will still be a RFA , so if you want to trade him you can still trade him then and then the acquiring team still has a young goalie under control, and he might increase his value by then so that might be an asset with some reasonable value then. Buying out and throwing away a 1st round pick is dumb, when we don't have many assets anyway.

 

[KW]

Get rid of both whenever possible and find a motivated goalie. He’ll want to come here and win a ring. Forget about $10M fakes.

 

[Idiot Stick]

goalies who are ufa next year if we drop knight
Quick is old as shit but has been playing really solid under the rags and can be had for cheap

Lyon is also a UFA and hes played solid for the red wings and us, dunno what value hes gonna ask for though

All for getting someone cheaper than knight to shore up the D

2025 NHL Free Agents

Tracking the status and signings of all NHL free agents.

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[batting1k]

Trade him. A rebuilding/mid team will take him, no doubt.

 

[Sticksandsun]

If we do move Knight and need a 1b capable of 35-40 games, I'd like Zito to pry Logan Thompson away from Washington in free agency.

He's posted some good enough numbers in Vegas and having success with Capitals this year. Turning 28 in February but is likely looking for a big payday.

 

[Dread Clawz]

If we do move Knight and need a 1b capable of 35-40 games, I'd like Zito to pry Logan Thompson away from Washington in free agency.

He's posted some good enough numbers in Vegas and having success with Capitals this year. Turning 28 in February but is likely looking for a big payday.

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He's gonna get at least 5M, he's won 12 of his first 15 games there, and playing great. Gonna make more than Knight for sure .

 

[Sticksandsun]

He's gonna get at least 5M, he's won 12 of his first 15 games there, and playing great. Gonna make more than Knight for sure .

I'm okay with Zito paying money for proven results, it would be a bidding war if he keeps up this level of performance with Washington.

Varlamov has decent numbers with Islanders but he's 37 soon and has 2 years left.

Slim pickings in net this July and guys with 1 or 2 years of term.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I'm okay with Zito paying money for proven results, it would be a bidding war if he keeps up this level of performance with Washington.

Varlamov has decent numbers with Islanders but he's 37 soon and has 2 years left.

Slim pickings in net this July and guys with 1 or 2 years of term.

Exactly my point, it's not like there's a whole lot out there to replace Knight. No way we give a big, long term deal to Thompson when we already have Bob.

 

[Sticksandsun]

Exactly my point, it's not like there's a whole lot out there to replace Knight. No way we give a big, long term deal to Thompson when we already have Bob.

I don't think Knight is a year or two away from being a 50 game goalie.
Zito may be forced to move Bob if he can find his replacement level starter who's only 28.

 

[Gentle Man]

Oilers are unhappy with Skinner


Knight might fix it.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

I'd think that if Zito was even contemplating about trading Knight then that would've happened a long time ago.

 

[Gentle Man]

Knight for Levi