Blues Eyeing a Jordan Binnington Trade
By Josh Erickson | March 3, 2026, 2:12 PM
This week could mark a turning point for the St. Louis Blues. While there’s growing interest in their forward cornerstone Robert Thomas, the club has also faced increased chatter about trading starting goalie Jordan Binnington in recent months. Now, it seems momentum is shifting toward a sale, with NHL Network’s Brian Lawton reporting that St. Louis is “ready to move on” from Binnington and that a deal feels almost inevitable.
That stance represents a notable reversal from the previous mood, which suggested the Blues were listening but not yet close to moving him. In trade discussions, Binnington hadn’t featured prominently on many lists and was often ranked lower on trade boards. Earlier today, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta labeled him a “bubble player” outside the top 40. He sat at No. 24 on TSN’s latest Trade Bait, and No. 43 on Chris Johnston’s Athletic list published yesterday.
Most likely, Binnington’s fate is tied to Thomas’s. It wouldn’t make much sense for a franchise that’s weighing a modest retool versus a fuller rebuild to deal away one key piece without considering the other. Given that dynamic, interest in Binnington has intensified as teams show renewed curiosity in Thomas, with reports of offers from the Mammoth and the Sabres in recent days. General Manager Doug Armstrong appears to be leaning toward acting on those possibilities.
Assessing Binnington’s value is tricky. On the positive side, he’s under contract for another year with a $6 million cap hit, a desirable number for teams needing an established, though sometimes inconsistent, starter. He also arrives with a strong international résumé, having backstopped Team Canada to a championship at last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off and earning a silver medal at the Winter Olympics with a .917 save percentage in five games. Plus, he’s a Stanley Cup champion and Calder Trophy finalist, with a track record that’s generally been above average in the playoffs.
On the flip side, Binnington has been the NHL’s least reliable starter this season. The Blues’ skater group has been below average but not disastrously so, and Binnington’s save percentage of .867 along with an 8-18-6 record in 31 starts is more reflective of his performance than the team’s defensive structure. His backup, Joel Hofer, has posted a .899 save percentage in a similar workload. Analytics put Binnington’s numbers under the microscope as well, with MoneyPuck crediting him for the worst goals saved above expected (GSAx) in the league at -23.8.
Hofer’s recent hot stretch and his own prospect pedigree add another layer to the equation. If St. Louis can extract substantial value now, before Hofer becomes arbitration-eligible, it might spur the move. Hofer himself is coming off a rough start but has steadied, carrying a 14-11-3 record and a .905 save percentage over his last 15 appearances, broadly aligning with his career average.
In short, the Blues may be weighing a strategic shift: ride Hofer as the future, or capitalize on Binnington’s value to accelerate a rebuild and retool around Thomas. The coming days should reveal whether Armstrong can secure meaningful returns while keeping Thomas in the fold—or if St. Louis will keep both paths open longer.
How do you see this developing? Is it prudent for the Blues to cash in on Binnington now, or should they prioritize keeping him alongside Thomas to compete in the near term? Share your perspective in the comments.
