Jordan Binnington’s time with the St. Louis Blues may be ending sooner than expected. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and with Joel Hofer taking over the reins as the No. 1 goalie, there was always the possibility that Binnington could sign elsewhere.

Binnington could also use a change of scenery. There is no questioning his place in Blues history. He is the franchise leader in games played by a goalie (382), wins (187), and is fourth in shutouts (19). He was also instrumental in winning the Blues their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2019, setting the NHL record for playoff wins by a rookie goalie (16). At the same time, the drop-off in Binnington’s play since the start of last season cannot be denied, and if an offer comes in for the veteran netminder, it might be in the Blues’ best interest to consider it.

Binnington’s Name Surfaces in Trade Discussions

It became clear at last year’s trade deadline that the Blues were starting to move in a new direction. Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk were moved. Colton Parayko was nearly moved to the Buffalo Sabres, and Binnington’s name was floated around in some potential trade destinations. The Blues were not done there, as the moves continued in the offseason.

The Blues also moved on from Jordan Kyrou this offseason, after years of being at the center of trade rumors. The organization has made an effort to get younger, bringing in Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish, but as the Blues continue to reshape their roster, Binnington could be the next veteran on his way out.

During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Sportsnet’s Saturday Night Hockey broadcast, Elliotte Friedman reported that he has started to hear some noise about Binnington’s name potentially being involved in some trade discussions. A specific team was not named, but several teams could be looking to upgrade their goaltending.

While Friedman did not name any potential destinations, the New York Rangers are an interesting team to watch. They do not need a long-term option in net, as they have that covered with Igor Shesterkin, but he is out for the year with a lower-body injury, and Binnington would present them with a short-term rental option.

Saturday, New York put James Reimer on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination after Joonas Korpisalo returned from injury. New York sits third in the Metropolitan Division, but if they do not believe their current goaltending duo is good enough to sustain a long playoff run, Binnington could become an intriguing name. He could be one of the few goaltenders available on the trade market with substantial playoff experience, and if a team needs a goalie for a single playoff run, Binnington has proven he can deliver when everything is on the line.

Hofer’s Time to Take Over

If there was ever a time to move on from a Blues legend, now would be the right time. The team is not looking for their next starting goaltender. They already have him in Hofer.

Last season felt like Hofer’s audition to become the starter. He made 43 starts compared to Binnington’s 39, and Hofer’s performance was better across the board.

Since the start of the 2025-26 season, Hofer has a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in 58 games. In that same span, Binnington has a 3.43 goals-against average and an .871 save percentage in 46 games. The changing of the guard is underway with the Blues. They are in safe hands with Hofer and have their goalie of the future.

With Hofer establishing himself as the Blues’ No. 1 goalie, St. Louis has an opportunity to move on from Binnington without creating another hole in its lineup.