As the Blues' struggles continue, speculation rises about Jordan Binnington’s future (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
Jordan Binnington and the St. Louis Blues salvaged a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Despite an inconsistent start, they remained within three points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference 17 games into the 2024-25 regular season. However, if the Blues find themselves in another skid at American Thanksgiving, the belief around the NHL is that general manager Doug Armstrong could shine that open-for-business sign.
“I think they know they’re a team in a reset, and they really haven’t set a tone yet,” an NHL scout opined to RG this past Monday.
That was a day before the Blues blew a 2-0 lead over the Boston Bruins and eventually lost 3-2. After that loss, that same scout reached out again and said:
“Did you see the body language on [Jordan] Binnington and then his teammates after the Bruins tied the game?”
Then, after Binnington and the Blues blew another third period lead on Thursday night, the same scout said this:
“I wonder if Binnington asks out eventually?”
Well, that led to RG’s call to a trusted NHL executive source who once worked with the Blues.
“That wouldn’t surprise me if he asked out,” the source replied when asked if Binnington, the backbone of the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions, would eventually ask out this season.
“He’s a gamer, and yeah, I think he’s tasted a Cup before, so he will want more,” the source replied. “There are teams that have a chance and could use him.”
Binnington, 31, has two years left on a six-year, $36 million contract that carries a $6 million AAV.
The Carolina Hurricanes are already without goalie Frederik Andersen, and now Pyotr Kochetkov’s hurt with his status up in the air. Goaltending, both injury and performance-wise, has been an issue for the Hurricanes in recent seasons as they try to get over the hump and make the Stanley Cup Final. Could a Stanley Cup winner like Binnington grab their interest if he became available?
“Yes, I think so,” the same NHL executive source said. “But they won’t be the only ones.”
As the NHL season reaches that benchmark of American Thanksgiving, it will be interesting to see if Binnington becomes one of many players that typically become available at that point.
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James Murphy
