Panthers goalie opens up about his mental health battles

In an interview with The Hockey News, Knight unfolded the reasons for his departure, disclosing that he was battling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and seeking treatment so he continue his career in a greater degree of comfort.

His issues began during his first season at Boston College in 2019. In his interview, Knight detailed that he began to wash his hands excessively, a behaviour that seemed extremely necessary but could not explain the reasoning behind it. His mental health came to a boiling point during a game in Winnipeg. After falling ill and being pulled from the net during game, Knight's was consumed by negative thoughts about the illness. Knight started to lose his ability to sleep at night, and then followed with lapses of focus in games.

With Knight on the sidelines watching his team's run all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, he had plenty of time to reflect.

Knight missed the Panthers' entire run to the Stanley Cup Final, during that time reflecting on his own condition, and working to lessen the effect of the problems.

Knight told the Hockey News. «I never wanted to feel like a burden.»

Knight worked closely with experts in OCD and had conversational sessions with others who had OCD effect their lives, and now feels much more equipped to face problems brought on by the disorder that are out of his control. He understands that he's able to handle uncertainty that will come with returning to professional goaltending after time away, and that his time in the Player Assistance Program will lead him to become a better goaltender.

The 13th overall pick from the 2019 draft has spent parts of three seasons with the Panthers. Knight had his GAA balloon to 3.18 and save percentage grow to .901, while sporting a 9-8-1 record last season.

Selected 13th overall by the Panthers in the 2019 draft, Knight has spent three partial seasons with the NHL club at just 22 years old. In 21 games last season, Knight put up a 9-8-3 record with a 3.18 GAA, and a .901 save percentage. He will join the Panthers for training camp this week, and is expected to compete for the backup position behind Sergei Bobrovsky for the upcoming season.