Ranking the St. Louis Blues goaltenders from worst to first in 2024-25

The St. Louis Blues have five goaltenders either slated for the NHL, AHL, or even the ECHL ranks who are signed with the team. So, if we were to rank them from worst to first, we have a good idea of who the No. 1 and No. 2 names are, but how would those behind them in the organization stack up?

We’re going to answer that question in this short article and let you know how each netminder has performed leading into the 2024-25 season. Also, we’ll break down what you can expect from each goalie and where they are most likely to end up. 

5 - Will Cranley

Will Cranley doesn’t have much experience in the AHL, having played just one game to date. Still, he’s struggled just about everywhere else, never accumulating over a 0.893 GAA in the ECHL, and his best goals allowed average in that same league is a meager 3.55 for the Reading Royals. He also played in 27 games for the Utah Grizzlies last season, finishing with a 3.84 GAA and an 0.886 save percentage. 

Barring a major injury or if the Blues lose interest in Vadim Zherenko, expect Will Cranley to either sidle in as a third goaltender in the AHL or spend most of his time in the ECHL once again. 

4 - Vadim Zherenko

Vadim Zherenko enjoyed an encouraging 2022-23 season, but he regressed this past campaign, finishing with just a 3.49 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage. This may be the make-it-or-break-it year for Zherenko, and all eyes will be on the former seventh-round pick to see if he’s worth keeping around. 

Zherenko is at a crossroads, so if he enjoys a strong start to the 2024-25 season, there’s a good chance he will be the top guy in Springfield. But if he struggles, the No. 3 goaltender on this list will have his chance to be the top netminder as far as organizational depth goes. 

3 - Colten Ellis

Colten Ellis put up some encouraging performances in the ECHL this past season, securing a 2.45 GAA and a 0.923 save percentage with the Orlando Solar Bears. He was also strong in the AHL, finishing the season with a 2.89 GAA and a 0.924 save percentage across 16 starts for the Springfield Thunderbirds. 

Colten Ellis should more than get his chance this season if Vadim Zherenko struggles, so don’t be surprised if he’s the top guy in Springfield by the time the season ends, should that occur. If Zherenko plays well and Ellis builds off his strong season, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. 

2 - Joel Hofer

There’s no question heading into 2024-25 that Joel Hofer will earn at least 35 games of playing time behind incumbent starter Jordan Binnington. Hofer’s 0.913 save percentage and 2.65 GAA is only the beginning of what should be a long career in Gateway City once Binnington’s days as a Blue are over, and that could come sooner rather than later, depending on how things play out this season. 

Hofer is still the No. 2 goaltender, thanks to Jordan Binnington’s consistent play. But with a roster that should get younger as the year progresses or if the Blues contend this year, younger for 2025-26, he will keep getting more chances. 

1 - Jordan Binnington

Jordan Binnington may ultimately face serious competition from Joel Hofer in the future, but for now, he’s locked down as the No. 1 goaltender in the Blues NHL/AHL system. Binnington has enjoyed an excellent run with the Blues dating back to the 2018-19 season, when he took second for the Calder, and he continues to be a steady presence for the Blues to this day. 

Similar to what I mentioned about Joel Hofer, Jordan Binnington’s overall time in the Blues net this season will depend on where they’re heading. In a worst-case scenario, a trade could be possible, but right now, I’m saying the Blues play well enough to keep their franchise goaltender around this season. 

(Statistics powered by Elite Prospects and Hockey-Reference)