Will the Blues deal hot-headed Stanley Cup-winning goaltender in July?

The St. Louis Blues have found a great surprise in backup goaltender Joel Hofer. Selected 107th overall in 2018, Hofer has served 2nd-fiddle to Jordan Binnington in the Blues system. 

Binnington helped the Blues overcome the odds in a 2019 underdog story, which led to the team winning a Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins, led by Bruce Cassidy. 

Players come and go, and as the Blues begin their retool, some players, including their own stars, may have to find a new home in the NHL. It seems like Hofers ascent, could we see Binnington get moved during free agency? 

 

I have a feeling Joel Hofer is getting close to being a household name. +11.17 GSAx since the break, with a .948SV%.

A Binnington offseason trade feels inevitable. It's Hofer's net now. https://t.co/zDPjHZeFQh

— Nathan "Grav" Murdock (@NathanGraviteh) March 15, 2026

From Stanley Cup Winner To Liability?

The Blues have nothing to lose as they continue to blow the old guard up. They recently traded Captain Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders, as general manager Doug Armstrong continues to forge a new identity for the team.

Binnington was part of a Canadian team that came short of winning a gold medal in the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy. He's gained infamy in recent years due to succumbing to emotional outbursts on the ice and in playoff situations. Notably, he threw a water bottle at the Colorado Avalanche's Nazem Kadri in 2022.

Will Jordan Binnington Be A Cap Casualty? 

His contract is costly, with a $6 million average annual value (AAV) cap hit which expires at the end of the 2026-27 season. 

In order to set up the Blues for another round of playoff contention in the future, Binnington could become the next Blues player to hit the road for greener pastures. 

The only issue with this is that Binnington will have to okay the trade, as he has a modified no-trade clause attached to his contract, which he signed in 2021.

 

James Guillory-Imagn Images