Blackhawks Goalie Knight's Unique Calling Card: A Systematic Approach to Defensemen's Blind Spots
The Chicago Blackhawks' Spencer Knight is known for his exceptional on-ice decision-making, which has earned him the praise of his teammates and coaches. However, one aspect of his game that stands out as particularly noteworthy is his use of vocal cues to help his defenders play more effectively.
Knight's unorthodox approach involves using his voice to provide "blind-spot detection" to his defensemen, alerting them when an opponent is lurking in a particular area of the ice. By doing so, he enables his teammates to adjust their positioning and react more quickly to threats on the ice.
Defenseman Louis Crevier credits Knight's vocal cues as a key factor in his development as a well-rounded NHL player. "Sometimes you get the puck and you hear 'Skate, skate, skate!' " Crevier said. "I trust Knighter, so if he yells 'skate,' I know I have time and there's no one there. So I can adjust the puck more, and I'm not looking if someone is going to bury me."
This system has proven effective for several Blackhawks defensemen, including veteran Matt Grzelcyk. Initially taken aback by Knight's vocal cues during training camp, Grzelcyk soon came to appreciate their value. "I'm like, 'Who's talking right now?' " he joked. "But obviously [Spencer] can see the ice better than anyone. He has the best position there. And he reads the game really well, so we all trust him very much."
Knight's positive impacts on the Blackhawks this season extend beyond his teammates' improved defensive play. His own performance in net has been outstanding, with a 10-6-5 record and .916 save percentage that ties for sixth-best in the NHL.
Despite his remarkable on-ice health and recovery habits, which have drawn attention from several Hawks players, Knight's unique calling card remains his vocal cues to his defensemen. "When people are talking to you, it gets everyone on the same page," he said. "Everyone is communicating [and] staying engaged."
This approach highlights the importance of communication in hockey, particularly among the goalie and defensive units. By leveraging Knight's exceptional vision and quick thinking, the Blackhawks have become a more cohesive and effective team.
Coach Jeff Blashill has praised the value of Knight's system, noting that it helps the defensemen "stay ahead" of opponents on the ice. "We'll take all of that, as much as we can," he said.
As the Blackhawks continue to navigate the competitive NHL landscape, their goalie's innovative approach to defensemen's blind spots is likely to remain an important factor in their success.
The Chicago Blackhawks' Spencer Knight is known for his exceptional on-ice decision-making, which has earned him the praise of his teammates and coaches. However, one aspect of his game that stands out as particularly noteworthy is his use of vocal cues to help his defenders play more effectively.
Knight's unorthodox approach involves using his voice to provide "blind-spot detection" to his defensemen, alerting them when an opponent is lurking in a particular area of the ice. By doing so, he enables his teammates to adjust their positioning and react more quickly to threats on the ice.
Defenseman Louis Crevier credits Knight's vocal cues as a key factor in his development as a well-rounded NHL player. "Sometimes you get the puck and you hear 'Skate, skate, skate!' " Crevier said. "I trust Knighter, so if he yells 'skate,' I know I have time and there's no one there. So I can adjust the puck more, and I'm not looking if someone is going to bury me."
This system has proven effective for several Blackhawks defensemen, including veteran Matt Grzelcyk. Initially taken aback by Knight's vocal cues during training camp, Grzelcyk soon came to appreciate their value. "I'm like, 'Who's talking right now?' " he joked. "But obviously [Spencer] can see the ice better than anyone. He has the best position there. And he reads the game really well, so we all trust him very much."
Knight's positive impacts on the Blackhawks this season extend beyond his teammates' improved defensive play. His own performance in net has been outstanding, with a 10-6-5 record and .916 save percentage that ties for sixth-best in the NHL.
Despite his remarkable on-ice health and recovery habits, which have drawn attention from several Hawks players, Knight's unique calling card remains his vocal cues to his defensemen. "When people are talking to you, it gets everyone on the same page," he said. "Everyone is communicating [and] staying engaged."
This approach highlights the importance of communication in hockey, particularly among the goalie and defensive units. By leveraging Knight's exceptional vision and quick thinking, the Blackhawks have become a more cohesive and effective team.
Coach Jeff Blashill has praised the value of Knight's system, noting that it helps the defensemen "stay ahead" of opponents on the ice. "We'll take all of that, as much as we can," he said.
As the Blackhawks continue to navigate the competitive NHL landscape, their goalie's innovative approach to defensemen's blind spots is likely to remain an important factor in their success.
️. It's like they're having a secret conversation that everyone else can't hear, but it's totally making a difference for the team. I mean, who wouldn't want to know when their teammate is about to get burned by an opponent? It's all about communication and trust, right? 
And it's not just Knight doing this - I've seen other teams experimenting with similar systems too. This could be the future of hockey! 
they're like his secret weapon! so instead of being all quiet and serious on the ice, he's literally yelling at his teammates to skate or react to something. it's actually super genius 
i mean, louis crevier is totally right when he says he trusts knighter completely if he yells 'skate' 
matt grzelcyk was like "who's talking now?" but knight just shows him the ice and they're golden 
coach blashill loves it too, says it helps them stay ahead of the game 
! I mean, think about it - hockey's all about reaction time and reading the game, so having someone like Knight who can see the ice better than anyone else is a total game-changer. And his vocal cues are genius 
. I've seen some teams struggle with communication on the ice, but this just proves that when everyone's on the same page (or in this case, heard the same cue 
), you're unstoppable! The fact that it's worked for multiple defensemen like Crevier and Grzelcyk is even more awesome. Knight's definitely got a special gift 
.
, like Spencer Knight. He's got game and his system with vocal cues is genius 
, and Knight's part of that 
!
Crevier and Grzelcyk got lucky to have him as their goalie lol, but seriously it's so cool how he can read the game and anticipate threats before they even happen. And you're right coach Blashill is preaching the importance of communication in hockey, like, I get it, but this is on a whole other level 
. It's like he's anticipating where the other team's players are going to be and then tells them so they can adjust on the fly. I love how Crevier trusts Knight's vocal cues enough to make split-second decisions without even looking 
️. The Blackhawks are definitely reaping the benefits of this approach and I'm excited to see how it plays out for them as the season goes on