Ah, the NHL offseason. For the first few weeks, players take some time to reset and wind down from the grind and exhaustion of a gruelling 82-game regular season--plus a handful of intense playoff games, if they made the cut. For the St. Louis Blues, the season ended after game 82, and players should be on the verge of preparing for the 2026-27 season.
For the Blues' two goaltenders, both are facing critical summers in their careers, but for very different reasons: Joel Hofer has likely taken the reins as the Blues' starting goalie for next season, while veteran Jordan Binnington could be pushed to a backup role. We all know what a fierce competitor Binnington is, and it's unlikely he'll roll over and let Hofer take over the crease to start the season without a fight.
Truly, this could be the most important summer of Binnington's storied career--not just because he'll have to fight to get the starter's job back, but because he may not even be on the Blues on opening night. Binnington has been a Blue for his entire NHL career, and joining a new team could put significant pressure on the veteran netminder to step up his game. Getting traded upends your life, and it can be even more daunting when you're now part of a team that's in "Stanley Cup or bust" mode, like the Edmonton Oilers.
There are a lot of directions the off season could go for Binnington: accepting a backup role with the only team he's ever known, integrating into a new locker room, or fighting tooth and nail for his old spot as the Blues' starter. However it all turns out, it's going to a big summer for him.
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