NHL Rumors: Hurricanes Passed On Jordan Binnington Deal

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 ,
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington makes a save during 2026 game.

For a team that usually swings big, the Carolina Hurricanes going quiet at the deadline raised some eyebrows. 

Especially when Jordan Binnington’s name was floating around.

Hurricanes Didn’t View Jordan Binnington as the Upgrade

The Hurricanes did do their homework on Jordan Binnington. They checked in with the St. Louis Blues, kicked tires, and that was reportedly about as far as it went. 

According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, talks “never got serious,” and that kind of sums up GM Eric Tulsky's entire deadline.

Tulsky made it clear the Hurricanes weren’t interested in paying premium prices for moves that only made them marginally better. 

If a true difference-maker was available, they were willing to go all-in. But when it came to goaltending, there just wasn’t a clear option that moved the needle enough for them.

Binnington fell into that middle tier. Useful, experienced, proven in big moments, but they didn't think he was a “no-brainer” upgrade.

That's fair. Binnington holds a brutal .872 save percentage, 3.40 GAA, and a 11-19-6 record across 37 games played this year.

Price, Fit, and Confidence in Current Goalies Played a Role

There were a few layers to this. 

First, the price. 

Tulsky openly admitted the market was expensive, especially for players viewed as depth additions. Binnington, with his contract, term, and trade protection, wasn’t exactly a simple add in a tight deadline window.

Then there’s Carolina’s belief in what they already have. 

Frederik Andersen hasn’t been dominant, sitting at a .874 save percentage, but the Hurricanes continue to win. 

Brandon Bussi has been a bright spot with a strong rookie season, although he's been struggling lately, and Pyotr Kochetkov is working his way back from hip surgery with hopes of being available for the playoffs.

Since the Olympic break, Bussi has a horrible .844 SV% and a 3-3 record over six games played.

That being said, this is a team that defends as well as anyone in the league. 

They don't let up many shots, they limit chances well, and keep games under control. Even with sub-.900 goaltending, they’ve stayed near the top of the standings. It appears the organization doesn’t see goaltending as a glaring weakness, at least not one worth overpaying to fix.

In the end, Carolina just didn’t see Jordan Binnington as the piece that would push them over the top. If anything, this feels like something that could resurface in the offseason if the price changes.

Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

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