Binnington's last hail mary is his performance for Team Canada in Olympics

The St. Louis Blues, as well as the rest of the National Hockey League, are on a bit of a break with the 2026 Olympic Games underway. There are 12 national teams featuring the best hockey players on the planet in this best-on-best tournament, and the Blues have five players representing them in these prestigious games.

One of those representatives, who might be the most questionable choice for the one team that everyone has predicted to win it all, is Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. This 2025-26 regular season has not been kind for the franchise's all-time winningest goaltender, and many argue that it might be his last in the 'Lou.

This performance in Italy might be his Hail Mary for retaining his place within the Blues organization, and not being shipped off at the Trade Deadline on March 6. Can he prove to the world he still has what it takes?

Will he start?

The Canadian national team has three goalies on their roster. Binnington, Logan Thompson from Washington, and Darcy Kuemper from Los Angeles make up the trio, with Binnington likely in the lead to start the opening game for Team Canada against Czechia. It is not a highly talented group, and it is considered to be one of the lowest-rated goaltending groups in international hockey history.

Binnington should be getting the first start, as he was a stud for Team Canada last season in the Four Nations Face-off. General Manager of Team Canada, as well as the Blues, Doug Armstrong, knows that, and the rest of the world knows that Binnington can play very well with all the lights on him.

Maybe he turns things around with a solid performance in Italy.

How a positive performance effects the Blues?

Currently at 8-17-6, and a save percentage of a lowly .864, this is the worst season of Binnington's career in the NHL. There is no sugarcoating just how much of a detriment he has been for this team this season, and it is a large reason why they are in the position that they are in at the Olympic break.

But things can turn around for him. Backup goaltender Joel Hofer has been getting a vast majority of the starts for nearly two months now, but a solid performance in these Olympic Games might sway Blues head coach Jim Montgomery to start looking back at No. 50. Not to mention, these games could be a big confidence booster for Binnington, much like the Four Nations tournament was last season.

A solid and positive experience might be what saves Binnington's, and the Blues, season.