The St. Louis Blues have made multiple notable moves this off-season after their strong 2024-25 season. One of them was re-signing goaltender Joel Hofer to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4 million back in late June.
This was an important move for the Blues to make, as Hofer could have been the top restricted free agent (RFA) goalie to hit the market on July 1. Thus, many viewed him as a potential offer sheet target, but thankfully, the Blues got him re-signed before that had any chance of happening.
Getting Hofer re-signed was significant for the Blues, as the 24-year-old is on his way to becoming a very good goalie at the NHL level. He has served wonderfully as the Blues' backup over the last two seasons, and he still has the potential to get even better as he continues to gain more experience.
Hofer had another solid season in 2024-25 for the Blues, as he posted a 16-8-3 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average. This was after he recorded a 15-12-1 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.65 goals-against average in 30 games with the Blues in 2023-24. It is hard to expect more from a backup, so getting Hofer locked up for the next two years is a strong move for the Blues.
It will now be interesting to see what kind of season Hofer has in 2025-26 after landing his new contract from here. It would not be surprising in the slightest if he hit a new level with the Central Division club, but time will tell what happens on that front.
Blues Soaring Forward Should Hit New Level
<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues">St. Louis Blues</a> forward Jake Neighbours broke out in a big way for the Central Division club during the 2023-24 season. In 77 games with the Blues that season, he scored a career-high 27 goals and recorded 38 points. This was undoubtedly a nice breakout year for the 2020 first-round pick, as he proved that he could make an impact at the NHL level.
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