St. Louis Blues Goaltender Lands On The Athletic's NHL Trade Board

Jordan Binnington has long been the subject of NHL trade rumors, and as he approaches the end of his contract, the discussions will only grow louder.

The Athletic's Chris Johnston released his trade board, expanding the list to 20 players. The second version of his trade board features St. Louis Blues goaltender Binnington, who landed in the eighth spot.

Things have changed quite considerably for Binnington and the Blues. Joel Hofer has emerged as the No. 1 netminder and is excelling in his role. He's played in all but four games this season, posting a .917 save percentage and winning four of his eight starts.

As for Binnington, he's won one of his four appearances and has posted a .845 SP and a 4.11 goals-against average. 

Several factors now suggest the Blues should be eager to move on from him.

To begin, his play does not warrant a role with the Blues, whether it's as a starter, tandem, or backup. His contract is expiring, and the Blues should have no interest in bringing him back unless his play improves significantly; based on the last two seasons, he may be far gone from that level. 

Another reason is the change in the goaltender trade market. Connor Hellebuyck was the big fish, and now that he is off to the New Jersey Devils, it leaves several teams inclined to improve their goaltending position with limited options.

Binnington is one of those options. In fact, Binnington is the only goaltender to appear in Johnston's top 20. 

"With Hellebuyck off the market, Binnington is the most intriguing name for teams looking to add an experienced goaltender," said Johnston. "There are some warning signs with his play over the past year or two, but his long-term track record remains a source of comfort. Binnington has often delivered his best performances in circumstances where the lights are brightest. Just getting playing time has become a challenge for him with the Blues, where Joel Hofer has taken control of the No. 1 job. Binnington is a pending UFA with a 10-team no-trade list."

The Blues hope to compete for a playoff spot, and as it stands, they are four points behind the third playoff spot in the Central Division and two points behind the second wild-card spot. 

Binnington is unlikely to factor into their playoff chances, and the Blues would likely be better off shedding an expiring contract by acquiring assets. With a $6 million salary, the Blues could retain salary in a deal if needed. 

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