In 2023-24, Joel Hofer showed the St. Louis Blues and their fans that he was good, with a 0.913 save percentage, a 2.65 GAA, a shutout, and a 0.593 quality starts percentage. That all came in his age-23 season, but the burning question was, could he do it again?
Fast-forward to 2024-25, and Hofer proved he was for real, posting a 0.904 save percentage, a 2.64 GAA, a shutout, and a 0.643 quality starts percentage. It also showed that yes, he deserves more of a timeshare with the incumbent No. 1 netminder, Jordan Binnington, and maybe more.
Now, don't get me wrong: This isn't saying that Hofer needs to be the No. 1 goaltender any time soon, or that a netminder controversy's gonna erupt. No, this is Binnington's net until general manager Doug Armstrong, head coach Jim Montgomery, and Company say otherwise.
Still, 35 games? That's what I'd give Hofer, if not more. Not a demotion to Binnington, but a 1A/1B situation that would benefit the Blues and one that would never make them 'sacrifice' a game with a distant No. 2 heading into the net - like what Eric Comrie is to Connor Hellebuyck.
Joel Hofer don't need to be the St. Louis Blues No. 1 netminder....yet
And you know what? Why not experiment with Hofer in the net more often for the Blues this season? It'd be one thing if his numbers tanked or they collectively backslid, but that never happened. Hofer showed enough progress and proved he could handle even more, especially with the Blues progressing into one of the NHL's better hockey teams.
Even during those stretches when the Blues coould be playing a lot of hockey games and "exhaustion" sets in, a more even Binnington-Hofer timeshare is even more important, since there would always be fresh legs in the crease.
That would give the Blues a fighting chance to win on any given night, assuming injuries don't take their respective toll. And it's not, since we know that Hofer doesn't have limitations like you see in so many No. 2 netminders, young and old.
Heck, if you put him on half the league's teams right now, he's either a No. 1 or a 1A. That's telling, and it gives a team like the Blues the ultimate power play to cause migraines for even the better teams in the Central Division.
Sure, the Blues can score and their blue line is shaping up. But because of Joel Hofer's ultra-consistent play in the net? Goaltending is their biggest strength.