The St. Louis Blues' season is essentially over. They are 35-33-12 with two games to play, out of playoff contention, and have little to cheer for down the stretch. Maybe you could've cheered for some young players getting time in the big leagues, but the Blues sent Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein back to the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds today. Maybe you can root against the Detroit Red Wings, in hopes their first-round draft pick is a couple spots higher.
Add in that Jordan Binnington's projected to start tonight's game--the last at home of the season--and things get even more bleak: this could be Binnington's last time in net for the Blues.
Now, that's not to say a trade this offseason is done and dusted. Binnington has one season remaining on his contract that carries a $6-million cap hit and 10-team no-trade list--and while Joel Hofer seems to have wrested the starter's job away from the vet, the Blues aren't exactly flush with goalies that could be full-time NHL backups next season. Keeping Binnington in a rotation with Hofer, even as a 1B to Hofer's 1A, makes a lot of sense--especially when considering that the NHL's regular season increases to 84 games for 2026-27.
One thing we all know about Binnington, though, is what a fierce, fiery competitor he is. Would he be content to play backup to his younger replacement and presumptive franchise starter for the next half decade? Or would he be eager to go to a team where he'd have a larger role in the hunt for another Stanley Cup for his trophy case?
Whether to keep or trade Binnington this summer will be a big decision for first-time general manager Alex Steen, and a conversation will surely need to be had with the veteran netminder. In the short term, Binnington deserves a proper send off tonight: a home ice win.
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