The NHL trade deadline looms large for teams looking to make moves this season. For the Blues, it should be a busy week given their vocal eagerness to shake up this roster that sits near the bottom of the league in points. A name that has come up more and more as Friday approaches is Jordan Binnington, the 2019 Stanley Cup Champion goaltender and fan favorite.
From Team Canada to a Canadian team?
Binnington's struggles have paved the way for Joel Hofer to effectively take over the majority of starts this season, which makes Binnington a prime target for teams looking to make noise in the playoffs but lack elite goaltending. On top of this, the Blues are surely eager to free up the cap space his contract currently occupies.
That brings us to Montreal. The Canadiens have one of the most exciting and dynamic teams in the league, filled with young forwards and defensemen who will only continue to improve in the coming years. However, their goaltending has caused some questions this year. Sam Montembeault, their reliable starter in net for years, has taken a significant step back this season. After posting .900+ save percentages for three consecutive years coming into this campaign, he has been very shaky with just a .874 save percentage and a career high 3.37 goals against average.
Given the likelihood of the Habs making it to the postseason and wanting to avoid the swift exit they saw last year at the hands of the Washington Capitals, it makes a lot of sense for them to look at a proven winner and known big game player like Jordan Binnington.
A history of deals
The Canadiens and Blues have worked together to swap assets frequently in years past, with the most recent example being the trade in the offseason that saw Zach Bolduc go to Montreal in exchange for Logan Mailloux. However, they've worked together on goaltender trades as recently as 2020, when the Blues sent Jake Allen to the Canadian squad in a scenario that feels very similar to the one they find themselves in now with Jordan Binnington.
The Blues understand that moving on from Binnington is difficult, but it makes sense given their expected competitive window and the emergence of Joel Hofer as a legitimate top-tier goalie in the NHL. If the Canadiens can provide St. Louis with some of their young talent or future prospects, this trade could be a huge win for both sides.
Thankfully, our wait won't be a long one as the trade deadline for the 2025-2026 season creeps closer every minute. As Blues fans, it will be a nerve-wracking 48 hours, but all that can be done is to wait and trust that Doug Armstrong and Alex Steen will be able to set the Blues up for success in the coming years.