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Team Canada should start Jordan Binnington in its Olympic opener, as its chances at a gold medal could be in jeopardy.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Team Canada at the Olympics is its goaltending situation. Canada selected three capable netminders in Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson, and Darcy Kuemper.
As Team Canada coach Jon Cooper made it known, the selection process favored highly those who contributed to last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off victory. As such, Binnington, despite the shoddy numbers with the St. Louis Blues this season, got the nod.
That situation opens the debate for a complicated situation. Should Binnington even play at all in Milano-Cortina? The short answer is yes. Binnington is a proven winner. He’s won a Stanley Cup under duress. He was also lights-out at the 4 Nations last year, outdueling Connor Hellebuyck in the final.
This time around, Team Canada will play more than four games to win the gold medal. That’s why the long answer is that Binnington should play in the Olympic opener. The rationale is simple. If he plays well, Cooper can roll with Binnington, potentially giving him a day off against seemingly inferior opponents.
But when crunch time comes, Binnington will be there to save the day. If he struggles in his first start, Cooper will have plenty of cover to roll with Thompson or Kuemper. The Canadian coach can easily face the media and say he gave Binnington a shot. It didn’t work out, so a change was necessary.
That’s the sort of plausible deniability a stacked side like Team Canada can afford to employ.
Team Canada Should Avoid “Saving” Binnington for Key Games
There’s something about Jordan Binnington that differentiates him from other goalies. The average NHL netminder needs time off to recover from the rigors of tending goal. But that’s not the case with Binnington. He seems to get better the more he plays.
That’s why Team Canada should avoid saving Binnington for key games. The Canadian squad needs Binnington in a groove if he’s going to be the guy heading into the medal round. While there is some margin for error, Cooper can’t afford to experiment. He had enough of a sample at the 4 Nations.
That’s why Binnington got the call, NHL numbers notwithstanding.
Binnington Will Have Elite Blue Line Playing in Front of Him at Olympics
Now, it’s worth underscoring that Binnington will have an elite blue line playing in front of him. The likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Shea Theodore, and teammate Colton Parayko, among others, will make Binnington’s life much easier.
Binnington, of course, will be facing equally elite competition. But having the sort of elite team playing in front of him should be a major boost to his overall performance. Knowing Binnington, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a switch go off as he hits the ice for Team Canada’s opener against Czechia.
It’s crucial for Canada to get off to a convincing win in its first game. While the matchup will certainly be tight against the likes of David Pastrnak and Martin Necas, Binnington and Team Canada must show why they’re the gold-medal favorites.
A strong outing and a solid win will go a long way towards setting up Binnington and Canada for success.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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