The Chicago Blackhawks have officially locked up in goalkeeper Spencer Knight with a three -year $ 5.83 million per seasonal contract extension, a movement that underlines both the trust of the team in De Jonge Letter and the self -assured approach of his own career.
According to Elliote Friedman from SportsnetThe deal was somewhat surprisingly not for the idea of an expansion – the undersherson were distributed all summer – but for the structure itself. In contrast to recent controversial goalkeeper contracts, including Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettener and Dustin Wolf, the new deal of Knight has fewer guarantees in terms of long -term protection. The three -year period only buys him from unlimited free agency for a year.
“This is clearly a player who benches on his own,” Friedman noted. “He believes that if he will be on the market in three years, he can close a much larger deal, especially at a time when many other number one goalkeepers are signed.” The move flies in the light of typical goalkeeper contracts, which are entangled to eight years of extensions and heavy guarantees, but Knight seems to be convinced that he can increase his stock in the coming seasons.
For the Blackhawks, the deal is a way with a low risk to maintain their starter and at the same time avoid a long -term obligation. “From the perspective of Chicago, they are happy that they don’t make a huge multi -year bet now,” Friedman added. “They take the gamble with knight and let him prove themselves.”
Does Knight set up a new goalkeeper market?
The deal is also a potential market benchmark for other emerging starting goalkeepers who are approaching a free agency. Teams such as Toronto, reportedly explore options with goalkeepers such as Anthony Stolarz, now have to calibrate their expectations based on Knight’s contract structure and CAP -hit. Stolarz has to look at this deal and think that he is not far away from this, since he has at least settled as a 1A option in Toronto.
As Kyle Bukauskas explained: “The situation of each team is different, but the expansion of Knight can influence how other teams appreciate their goalkeepers in a rapidly evolving CAP landscape.”
Knight’s confidence, in combination with the cautious approach to Chicago, can reflect a new trend in goalkeeper contracts: take short -term deals, bet in itself and hit a home run when there are no abundance of other starting goalkeepers to choose from in a free desk.
As Friedman concluded: “It is a fascinating bet – both for the player and the team – and it can reform how teams approach contracts for young, elite people who are making progress.”
Next: Insider reveals stunning details about the future and wild range of Kaprizov
#smart #gamble #Spencer #Knight #shake #NHL #target #market