'Joel Hofer Is Canada's Next Goaltender,' NHL Analyst Has High Praise For St. Louis Blues' Netminder

To the surprise of very few people now, Joel Hofer is off to a fantastic start for the St. Louis Blues.

In four games, he's posted two wins, a .921 save percentage, a 1.76 goals-against average, a shutout, and 2.5 goals saved above expected. Hofer outduelled Jordan Binnington for the No. 1 role last year and is showing no signs of giving it up.

Hofer has been praised by St. Louis fans for quite some time now, as since the 2023-24 NHL season, Hofer hasn't posted a save percentage below .900. That's serving as the backup, then a tandem and now the No. 1.

But finally, the 26-year-old is starting to receive the nationwide respect his game deserves.

On Wednesday, after the Blues' dominant 7-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, former NHL goaltender and current TSN analyst Jamie McLennan sang Hofer's praises.

“A little bit of recency bias, but I’ve liked this kid since last year; Joel Hofer is Canada’s next goaltender,” McLennan said on TSN's radio show, Overdrive. “I had the chance to visit with Jordan Binnington, who is Canada’s goaltender right now. So St. Louis has Canada’s goaltender of right now, and I think of the future. This kid’s a player.” 

Hofer has represented Canada internationally a few times now. Notably, he won a gold medal at the 2020 World Junior Championship, posting a .946 SP in six games and taking home goaltender of the tournament and All-Star Team honors. He's also played for Canada at the World Championships, winning gold in 2023 despite playing just two games.

But Hofer has proved to be a star at every level. His international success is well known, and he was a star in the WHL and AHL before making his way to the NHL.

“This kid, I’m telling you, O (Jeff O’Neill), this kid's a player," McLennan continued. "6-foot-5, handles the puck like Hextall and makes great saves. I’m telling you, he’s a player."

Selected in the fourth round (107th overall) in 2018, Hofer has developed into an NHL star. Although the competition for Canada's international goaltending spot is notably weak right now, it's still nothing to scoff at. This is serious praise from a respected NHL analyst.

The next best-on-best events are the 2028 World Cup of Hockey and the 2030 Olympics. If Hofer shows he can consistently perform among the NHL's elite, he could very well find himself as one of the three goaltenders named to the rosters. 

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