For years, the Blues have been defined by good goaltending. Ever since Jordan Binnington made his debut during the 2018-19 season, he has been the face of the franchise. He was the main reason the Blues won the Stanley Cup that season and has become one of the best goalies in the NHL. However, over the past few seasons, Binnington has started to decline. Causing the Blues to wonder what the future in the pipes looks like.
The 2025-26 season provided that answer, as Joel Hofer put in a great season and showed he could handle the starting goalie responsibilities. After being given the opportunity, he should show the Blues that he can be a good goalie at the NHL level and someone they can count on in the future. But how was Hofer able to jump Binnington on the depth chart, and what does the future hold for both of them?
Joel Hofer took a step forward while Jordan Binnington took a step back
While Binnington has been the face of the franchise, fans were concerned about how much longer he could play at an elite level. The 2022-23 season is when this started, as he posted a 3.31 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. While he bounced back in the past two seasons, 2025-26 was the worst of his career. In 41 games, he had a 3.33 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage. This was by far the worst season of his career.
On the other hand, Hofer has only been improving over the last few seasons. He became the backup goalie during the 2023-24 season and has thrived in that role. Over the previous two seasons, he had registered a 2.64 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. But the 2025-26 season was arguably the best of his career. In a career high 46 games, he logged a 2.61 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. The exact production you want from a starting goalie.
Hofer's advanced metrics showed that this season was not a matter of luck. According to Moneypuck, he had a goals saved above average of 11.7 and a .957 xSave% on unblocked shots. He also had an expected goals-against average of 2.87, which is only 0.26 higher than his actual GAA. Hofer is good enough to make these types of performances consistent. He should be able to replicate these numbers for years to come.
With the Blues being in a transition period, it is the best time to make a change at goalie. Making Hofer the starting goalie is a clear sign of the Blues' changing era. He can become a key piece in the Blues' next core. It would also be best to trade Binnington. While his value is at its lowest, it will continue to decrease as Hofer takes on a bigger role. The best thing to do is trade him while they can still get something decent for him.
Although it will be tough to say goodbye to Binnington, making Hofer the full-time goalie is the best move for the team. It will help the Blues turn the page and move on to the next chapter.
Add us as a preferred source on Google