Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight has publicly revealed his struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that forced him to miss the majority of the 2022-23 NHL season.
Knight shared that his difficulties began during his freshman year at Boston College in 2019, when he developed compulsive behaviors, including habitual and uncontrollable hand-washing.
While these symptoms did not initially interfere with his hockey career—he was drafted in the first round by the Panthers and helped Team USA capture gold at the 2021 World Juniors—the challenges intensified upon entering the NHL.
During a game in Winnipeg, Knight felt unwell and was initially diagnosed with the flu. However, he soon realized that his struggles extended beyond a temporary illness.
He began experiencing obsessive thoughts about becoming sick, which disrupted his sleep and daily functioning. Recognizing the impact on his life and performance, Knight sought professional support and joined the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in February 2023.
Over the past year, Knight has worked closely with an OCD specialist to better understand and manage his condition. At 22, he now feels prepared to focus fully on his career and make a significant impact in the NHL.
“I can still be the player I want to be, and I still believe I can be one of the best goalies in this league,” Knight said. “Maybe it’s this year, maybe it’s next year, maybe it’s in three years or four years or five years. I don’t know. I know what I’m capable of accomplishing. It was there before and it has been there the whole time.”
In his NHL career so far, Knight has appeared in 57 games, recording a .906 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average. While he is expected to play a supporting role to veteran Sergei Bobrovsky, Knight aims to build on the Panthers’ impressive run to the Stanley Cup Final.
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