St. Louis Blues fans may have cause for concern regarding their goaltending situation. Specifically, the concern lies with backup netminder Joel Hofer.
On Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks laid seven on Hofer, briefly chasing him from the game. Now, I get what some fans might think. It’s just a one-off, so there’s no need to freak out about the situation. Every player and team has a bad game. So, that’s that.
Yes, that’s true. Even the greatest players and teams have bad games. They bungle leads, cruise through “easy” games, and miss shots. But the way the Blues got pounded on Wednesday did raise some red flags.
In particular, the dreadful giveaway that led to the Blackhawks’ first goal was one that Hofer never recovered from. He looked shaken for the rest of the night. While he sort of settled in, he hardly looked comfortable.
All told, Hofer ended the night surrendering seven goals on 22 shots. Perhaps it just wasn’t his night. It was one of those experiences all players go through. Heck, anyone, any professional can sympathize with such nights.
But at the end of the day, a professional must shake off bad outings and performances and move on.
Blues might have goaltending bind looming on the horizon
The Blues have both Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer under contract through next season. As it stands, the Blues don’t have a goalie signed past the 2026-27 season. Now, that could be a bind given how incredibly complex the goaltending market is, the Blues may be in quite a pickle.
Of course, things could be simplified by signing Binnington to an extension. That’s certainly not out of the question.
But what about Hofer? St. Louis rushed to sign him this summer as he was presumed to be an offer sheet target. The club removed that threat by extending him. However, he’s played two games this season and has a 5.01 GAA and .824 SV%. Those eye-watering numbers will surely improve.
But what if they really don’t? The Blues already lost a goalie to waivers this season, Colten Ellis. Finding another could prove challenging given the current market. Maintaining the status quo will only suffice for now. But if Hofer continues to cost the Blues crucial points in the standings, there may be no other choice but to pull the trigger on a deal sooner rather than later.
St. Louis is a playoff club and will seek to remain in that category. With so much riding on goaltending, the team may not be willing to take any chances. The situation could force the Blues to make a move in order to salvage the season.