By Tim Ubels (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: October 16, 2013
Following an equally uneasy and exciting off-season, the Abbotsford Heat lineup has been transformed from a roster of mostly veterans into a collection of young players all competing for the next call-up to the big league. This rebuild had a lot of moving parts over the past six months, and included a trade that landed Corban Knight, the University of North Dakota’s star centre. Considering the gaping hole that remains down the middle of the Flames’ roster, it comes as no surprise that the team is restocking its prospect pool with players like the big-bodied Knight.
A top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is bestowed upon the NCAA’s top college hockey player, Knight failed to come to terms with the Florida Panthers over the spring after he finished his fourth year in college. This led to the Panthers trading the 23-year-old to the Flames, who subsequently signed Knight to a two-year entry-level deal. The trade only ended up costing Calgary a fourth-round pick in last summer’s entry draft, as Knight was set to become an unrestricted free agent later in the summer, so his trade value was dropping with each passing day. Buried on the Panthers’ depth chart behind recent draft selections Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, and Quinton Howden, the former fifth-round pick in 2009 will have a much easier time competing for top minutes with the Flames organization.
In an online press release, Flames general manager Jay Feaster revealed that Corban Knight had been a player that was targeted by the organization while his rights still belonged to the Panthers.
“When Florida did not sign Corban this spring, we contacted them and asked for permission to speak with him. Florida granted teams, including ours, that opportunity on the condition that we were prepared to trade for his rights,” Feaster said.
Knight, who was born in Oliver, British Columbia, has family ties in Calgary. His family moved to High River when he was three, which played into his decision to join the Flames this summer. After impressing management at the Young Stars Tournament and completing a decent training camp with the team, he was assigned to the Abbotsford Heat on September 26 along with Max Reinhart and Michael Ferland. Although the news of his assignment to the Heat came as a bit of a surprise for those who tabbed Knight to make the Flames lineup from the day he was acquired, if he can continue his strong play in Abbotsford, Knight will be an injury call-up sooner rather than later.
Picking up a goal and an assist in the Heat’s first two games of the season, Knight is already giving Heat fans a taste of his potential while adjusting to a professional league. A point-per-game player during the last three seasons he spent at the college level, Knight led the Fighting Sioux last season with 33 assists in 41 games.
Corban Knight is the kind of forward that knows how to use his large frame to his advantage, something that a lot of young prospects can’t adapt to once they reach the professional level. The 6’2, 200 lbs centre likes to get under the skin of his opponents, but also has flashy moments and a quick release on his wrist shot. Soft hands and a big body is a nightmarish combination for any defender, and while there is room for improvement in his play, Knight is a promising prospect and should see time with the Flames sometime this year.
