NHL Rumors: Blues & Panthers Linked To Trade
Sergei Bobrovsky is a pending unrestricted free agent, his contract talks with Florida have stalled, and if he walks on July 1, the two-time defending champions would be without a proven NHL starter for 2026-27.
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet recently linked Jordan Binnington to the Panthers on his trade board, and David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period independently suggested the same destination.
"It seems like the market for Binnington is beginning to grow again and that his future is not in St. Louis," Kypreos wrote, noting that a Bobrovsky departure would make the Panthers a strong candidate to pursue the Blues goaltender.
Why St. Louis Is Ready to Move Him
Binnington is heading into the final year of his six-year, $36 million contract at a $6 million cap hit, and the Blues appear ready to move on.
Per Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Joel Hofer, who went 24-13-5 with a .910 save percentage and six shutouts, will be the Blues' starter next season, leaving Binnington as the 1B option at best in St. Louis.
His 2025-26 numbers were the worst of his career outside his rookie year, with an .873 save percentage and a 3.33 goals-against average across 41 appearances.
If the #TimeToHunt don't re-sign Sergei Bobrovsky or make a trade for Connor Helleybuyck, could they turn their attention to #stlblues goalie Jordan Binnington? #NHLMockTradePoll
— Banana Man (@BananaManBets) June 19, 2026
Florida Panthers trade 2nd round pick (Washington)
St. Louis trade Jordan Binnington
Who says no?
Binnington was the starting goaltender for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics and thrived in those high-leverage situations, reminding the league of the championship pedigree that brought St. Louis its first Stanley Cup in 2019.
He carries a 10-team no-trade clause, which gives him some control over any destination.
The Proposed Package
A trade idea floated what a deal might look like, and the price is steep for a Panthers organization with limited trade capital.
The package begins with Florida's 2026 first-round pick, which lands at ninth overall after the Panthers recovered it from the Chicago Blackhawks as a top-10 protected selection.
That pick is significant because Florida does not have another first-round selection until 2029, the consequence of years of aggressive trades that have left them with the lowest-ranked prospect pool in the NHL, per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.
The two prospects most commonly attached to the proposal are Mackie Samoskevich, a middle-six winger who scored 12 goals in 77 games this season, and Marek Alscher, a 6-foot-3 bottom-pairing defenseman at 22 years old.
With the Blues potentially moving Colton Parayko in addition to Binnington, adding a physical young defenseman like Alscher addresses a legitimate organizational need in St. Louis.
It seems unlikely the Panthers would be willing to give up both a first and a prospect for Binnington, however, but that remains to be seen.
The Risk for Florida
Binnington will be 33 when the 2026-27 season begins, has just one year remaining on his contract, and is coming off a statistically poor season that was, by save percentage, even worse than Bobrovsky's.
The Panthers would be paying a meaningful price for a goaltender who could walk for free after a single season, and surrendering their only first-round pick through 2028 to do it.
But Florida is still firmly in their win-now window, and has built a reputation for thriving under pressure and getting the most out of veterans with championship pedigrees.
Also, Binnington's Olympic performance suggested the high-leverage version of him is still very much intact.
