With the expiration of back-up goaltender Joel Hofer's contract looming, the St. Louis Blues might have missed out on a steal. A cheap and very reliable goaltender was extended today, and had the Blues offered an olive branch of a trade, they could have snagged him for cheap.
That goaltender is Charlie Lindgren of Washington, who signed a 3-year, $9 million deal.
What could have been
This could have been the signing of the summer for the Blues. As the G.O.A.T, Jordan Binnington, is entering the second-half of his career, the reality of his reduced playing time should start settling into the minds of Blues fans everywhere. There needs to be a dependable back-up goalie on this roster, one that will recieve and carry the torch over the next couple of years.
This is not to say that Hofer can't be that guy, but the cards are stacked against him. This season, Hofer has been adequate at 11-7-2, including a shutout victory on October 17 against the New York Islanders. He has a save percentage of .899 and has a goals against average of 2.93.
Lindgren would have been a perfect fit, and the Blues didn't act fast enough. This season has been a little bit more of a down-to-earth season at 13-10-3, but he had won 25 games during the 2023-24 Capitals campaign. That included six shutouts, so he has a large amount of potential on him.
Stick with Hofer?
As this season rolls along, the Blues are right on the doorstep of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The goaltending situation will get very interesting over the next couple of weeks, as it is obviously not going to be all Binnington. Hofer will have to get some starts, and with every game being a crucial match-up, can the Blues continue winning?
Then, think about the end of the year. Say the Blues are the odd team out, anf they have to enjoy the long, hot summer. Do they stick with Hofer for another go-around? Or, do they look toward free agency to bring in a new name to back-up Binnington, and hope it works out?
Lindgren would have been a slam dunk, but it just didn't happen. The Blues missed out hard on trading for the Caps back-up.