Could Jordan Binnington be poised for a career year in 2025–26?

Jordan Binnington and the St. Louis Blues' 2024-25 season was a tale of two halves. Binnington and the Blues struggled early in the season, but that all seemed to change post the Four Nations Face-Off. A confident, borderline cocky Binnington is when he is at his best, and Blues fans are hoping that is how he will be coming into the 2025-26 season.

A tale of two halves

Binnington's overall numbers do not tell the whole story of how crucial he was for the Blues last season. He had a 2.69 goals-against average, which was his best since the 2020-21 season, and a .900 save percentage. But his play after the Four Nations Face-Off tournament did wonders for his numbers. He had an 11-3-1 record, boasting a goals against average of 2.33 and a save percentage of .905, and was one of the reasons why the Blues were able to push the Winnipeg Jets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

Motivated Binnington

Going into the 2025-26 season, Blues fans are hoping that we see that version of Binnington from the start of the season. Binnington has more motivation than ever to be a catalyst for the Blues' success. The Blues are a team looking to improve upon their performance from last season; they are not a team fighting for a playoff spot, but rather a team that wants to be competitive in the postseason. Binnington will also have the added pressure of back-up goalie Joel Hofer, vying for more minutes, as he could potentially be the Blues' starting goalie one day.

With a newfound motivation and a team on the come-up, could Binnington turn back the clock and have his best season since his rookie year in 2018-19? Make no mistake, he has had great seasons since the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019, but they all pale in comparison to the run he went on in that season. While repeating his 1.89 GAA and .927 save percentage from 2018–19 may be unrealistic, a more attainable stat line, around 2.40–2.50 GAA and .910–.915 save percentage, would still be a significant step forward.

Next season is also an Olympic year, and even with his performance at the Four Nations Face-Off, Binnington will be on a mission to prove that he is the only right option to backstop Canada at the tournament. Could a highly motivated Binnington be just the thing the Blues need to go on another incredible postseason run? Anything is on the table, and maybe we could see him emerge as a surprise contender for the Vezina Trophy this season. As Binnington goes, so go the Blues, and if he is locked in, another deep playoff run might just be within reach.