Blackhawks defensemen have their own blind-spot detection system: Spencer Knight’s voice

Learning how to skate with the puck and make quick, subtle plays to exit the defensive zone has been a big part of Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier’s evolution into a well-rounded, well-established NHL player this season.

Interestingly, Hawks goalie Spencer Knight has played a role in helping Crevier improve in that way. It’s all because of Knight’s voice and willingness to use it.

“Sometimes you get the puck and you hear, ‘Skate, skate, skate!'” Crevier said recently. “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. It’s small communication that makes a really nice difference.”

Not only Crevier but the entire Hawks defensive corps are benefiting from that voice echoing out from the goalie crease.

Veteran Matt Grzelcyk, for example, was initially caught off-guard during training camp. But he, too, has learned to appreciate it.

“I’m not used to the most vocal goalies, so it was a little adjustment at first. I’m like, ‘Who’s talking right now?'” Grzelcyk said. “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 Hawks this season — in a variety of ways — are difficult to overstate.

The 24-year-old Connecticut native is playing his own position extremely well — touting a 10-6-5 record, a .916 save percentage (tied for sixth-best in the NHL) and plus-11.5 GSAA (third-best) — in addition to helping his teammates play their positions better.

After his 21-save shutout in the Hawks’ win Wednesday against the Rangers, Crevier rightly called him “one of the best in the league.”

Knight’s off-ice health and recovery habits are remarkable, as well. During interviews about those habits, many Hawks also brought up this specific on-ice Knight quirk.

“When people are talking to you, it gets everyone on the same page,” Knight said. “Everyone is communicating [and] staying engaged.”

Since coach Jeff Blashill’s defensive scheme places a strong emphasis on Hawks defensemen boxing opposing forwards out of the slot and crease, Knight’s outspokenness is particularly useful.

Boxing out generally requires turning one’s back to the goal, which creates a large and critical blind spot. Knight’s voice provides a blind-spot detection system just like modern cars have.

“In front of the net, he’ll be like ‘Middle, middle!’ or ‘Backdoor!'” defenseman Wyatt Kaiser said. “He’s facing everything [head on]. I’m trying to find the puck.”

Kaiser explained that in that situation, he usually has to take “snapshots” of what’s happening behind him by swinging his head back and forth. By receiving the same information through his ears rather than his eyes, he can focus on the puck and his man.

Even once the Hawks kill the play, gain possession and try to exit the defensive zone, Knight’s shouted instructions still prove useful.

“If you’re the netfront ‘D,’ you do have to be ready to get going on the breakout, but sometimes they might have a guy lingering behind you,” Grzelcyk said. “[Spencer] might just let you know. You don’t have to stand back there, but [it’s good to be] aware that he’s there, in case there’s a defensive breakdown. I love it. He’s like a quarterback with that.”

Knight’s shouts are sometimes loud enough for Blashill to hear on the bench.

“He’s a really smart goalie,” Blashill said. “He understands the threats and where the threats are. If he can help our ‘D’ in that area, that’s great. Even…when you can go back and stop pucks, it probably diminishes the amount of times defensemen are getting run over.

“We’ll take all of that, as much as we can.”