With the St. Louis Blues in the middle of a retool, and with no shortage of teams seeking upgrades between the pipes, it feels like a good time for GM Doug Armstrong to shop star goalie Jordan Binnington.
The Blues have already made one big move, hiring ex-Boston Bruins head coach and Jack Adams Award winner Jim Montgomery to replace former bench boss Drew Bannister. It was a savvy move by Armstrong to jolt the struggling group, and the next big move should involve a Jordan Binnington trade.
Binnington is signed through the 2026-27 season with a manageable $6 million cap hit. The 2019 Stanley Cup hero is not playing up to standards, however, with a woeful 6-9-1 record, .891 save percentage and a 3.04 goals against average.
James Murphy of RG.org spoke to multiple sources about a potential Jordan Binnington trade. One scout thinks Binnington will ask for a trade, with a former Blues executive offering a similar opinion.
“That wouldn’t surprise me if he asked out,” the source told Murphy.
The most Jordan Binnington save pic.twitter.com/qRGoJwPwPB
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No team could use Binnington more than the Montreal Canadiens, who sit last in the Eastern Conference with a 7-11-2 record. Only four clubs have allowed more goals (77) than a Habs team that’s poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau have combined for a .881 save percentage and .358 goals against average. How on earth can the Canadiens get out of their rebuild with this kind of goaltending?
Binnington’s Stanley Cup experience is a strong indicator he’d be able to handle the pressure of playing in the Montreal market. he’s not a superstar, but Binnington would certainly be an upgrade over the current Habs tandem that has overstayed its welcome.
What Habs Should Offer Blues For Jordan Binnington
The Blues should be happy to sell low on Binnington if a team like Montreal comes forward with a reasonable offer that includes the willingness to eat the remaining money on his deal.
Montreal should offer Montembeault and a 2025 third-round pick to St. Louis for the Stanley Cup-winning netminder. The Habs would have a championship goalie to lead the crease, while the Blues would clear valuable salary to help Armstrong make blockbuster move down the road.
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