With the season fast approaching and training camp under way alot of the headlines will inherently be speculative. This is a natural and timely occurrence with any fanbase. Hope is the great common equalizer afterall, one that all thirty-two teams share right up until the first puck drops on the 2024-2025 season.
Sometime half way through though a defining narrative typically starts to emerge. For the Blues, a team that should fight for a playoff spot this campaign, said chronicle could be any number of pillars. Will it be the reliable forwards that light the lamp on the nightly basis? Perhaps the steady defensive core with a new influx of young talent? A Binnington - Hofer season long tandem feasibly could be the bell cow for the team. Or could it simply be that coaching and scheme take precedent and grab a hold of a gritty identity for the year?
All of these could be the trait that helps the Blues win this season. From our perspective though, it's the tandem in the crease that has our eye as the most likely reason the Blues could garner points most nights. Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer, if healthy most of the 82 games, could present one of the better tandems in the NHL.
Jordan Binnington has started 118 games over the last 2 seasons. This likely should come down 5-8 games for the upcoming season to rest him for the end of year stretch though. Posting a bounce back season with a .913 save percentage is outstanding as well. The new dad, Binnington will likely be entering a make or break season for his long term stability within the organization.
Joel Hofer, just 24 years old, is an imposing 6'5 left catching net minder. In his first real extension of play, the Canadian goalie posted an impressive .914 save percentage after only allowing 2.65 goals per contest. In just 27 starts it became clear that Hofer could potentially be a long term answer for St. Louis in net.
When looking at the Blues roster top to bottom it became abundantly clear that if it was going to be a succesful season, it would be because of these two players.
