Why the Blues should stick with Jordan Binnington at least for the Winter Classic
Joel Hofer has been sharp lately, but not impenetrable in net.
The St. Louis Blues have rebounded back to relevance under head coach Jim Montgomery, going from a 9-12-1 record after Drew Bannister’s exit to a team with a 17-17-4 record. That’s 20 points collected to pick the roster off the canvas for a possible playoff chase. However, during the comeback, the goaltending situation has gotten interesting. Joel Hofer has played better in December than his teammate, Jordan Binnington.
But, is it enough to warrant a switch in who holds the #1 goalie label as the New Year moves into place? There’s also the idea that a team wants to put into a starting goalie’s head with a removal like that. Timing can be a slippery slope with a hot stove goaltender situation. Namely, do you give the Winter Classic start to Hofer over Binnington?
Before I tell you how I feel, let’s look at the stats for each goaltender in the month of December. In six games, Hofer has a 2.18 goals against average with a 91% save percentage. He’s 4-0 this month, which is the loudest stat that I have seen thrown out in defense of a Hofer takeover. He’s started 12 games this season. After three stellar starts, Hofer allowed four goals against Nashville on Dec. 27. Technically, he wasn’t even good in his last start, so slow your roll, Hofer fanatics.
In eight December starts, Binnington hasn’t helped his case much, posting a 3.07 GAA and 87% save percentage to go with a 2-5-1 record. However, before his rough outing against Buffalo on Sunday, Binnington shut out the Detroit Red Wings and had another strong start on Dec. 14. His overall GAA and save % would look much sexier with the beatdown dished to him by the Washington Capitals.
He didn’t place much wood on the fire with his performance against Buffalo. With a chance to climb up closer in the Central Division standings, Binnington crapped the bed. A momentum killer isn’t what you’re paying $6 million for, but pulling him is a statement with two and a half years left on a six-year contract.
Another aspect is trying to compare Hofer’s 2024-25 stats with Binnington’s overall stats isn’t exactly credible. The 22-year-old’s work looks stellar in 13 games, while the veteran goaltender has handled the majority of the games. Would Hofer’s work be as great with double the work?
The future can dictate that answer, but this would be a wise plan moving forward. Give Binnington the Winter Classic game tomorrow in Chicago. It’s a big game, event, and possible turning point. More than Midwest hockey fans will be watching a nationally televised game that is celebrated as the coolest regular season event next to Hockey Fights Cancer night. Everybody is watching, and the man who doesn’t let nerves get to him should rise to the occasion.
If Binnington lays another deuce against the Blackhawks at Wrigley Field, it’ll be time for a change. Looking at the October and November stats for #50 doesn’t brighten his defense case much more than a wink. Truth be told, he hasn’t played exceptionally well after a nice 2023-24 campaign. When asked, I would bet he agrees. At 31 years of age, he knows the back nine of his NHL career is happening at the moment.
Hofer has put together a very good start to this season, and is the guy lined up to take the top spot in a couple years. The Alexander Steen era could begin with a new guy between the pipes. Binnington gets to decide how the next chapter of the book heading towards that conclusion will go. Let’s see if he can rescue December before it closes.
If he puts up a great outing tomorrow, that would give him four great starts in nine starts for December. Those aren’t great numbers, but that would be two gems out of three if we’re letting recency bias take shape. A game to game basis is what I would suggest with Binnington.
It’s not a black and white solution, where it’s this way or the other. The middle ground is populated with lots of “what if” possibilities, including going with Hofer against Chicago to see if he rises to that occasion of a big moment and seals the door shut. The argument for that move is as credible, maybe greater, than my argument to give Binnington one more shot to keep this from becoming a layered yet healthy competition.
There’s also the allure of thinking back to 2019, when the team made a big goaltending change with a new head coach and ran all the way to a Stanley Cup parade down Market Street. Fans have that in their mind. They’re not Hofer relatives nor have they allowed concrete to settle under their opinion on Binnington. A short attention span should be handed out to people when their tickets are scanned.
It’s the nature of the business; the big leagues cast quite the shadow. For now, let’s stick with the guy who doesn’t get nervous. Those gritty attributes are what made Binnington the goaltender he is, so let’s see if he has some fight left in him.
That would make the Blues a stronger team than if they have to truly lean on Hofer. These are my thoughts. Take them with a few hundred grains of salt.
They don’t need to anoint a clear no.1 goalie. It reminds me of a few years ago when Ville Husso was the emerging contender. He and Binnington sort of shared the role during the season but when Husso got a start in the playoffs and completely flopped, it was Binnington’s job from then on. It’s good to keep them both sharp and, if necessary, lean on the hot hand down the stretch.