The St. Louis Blues have one curious case on their hands with Jordan Binnington, especially during another retooling year

Jordan Binnington remains a puzzling figure for the St. Louis Blues, particularly during a year of rebuilding. At 31 years old, Binnington has been closely tied to the team throughout his career, making it hard to imagine the Blues without him. However, is his time with the team running out?

Despite his uncertain future, Binnington has certainly left his mark, recently tying the franchise record for wins—a record he is likely to claim outright soon. While impressive, the question remains whether it’s wise for the Blues to retain him, considering the business aspect of the league.

This season, his stats have been underwhelming, with an 0.888 save percentage, a 3.10 GAA, and a 0.467 quality starts percentage. These poor numbers could partly be attributed to the Blues’ lack of support, as they’ve struggled as a team, much like last season. However, a great goaltender is often expected to rise above those challenges and carry their team, something we’ve seen from Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, a young goaltender who has shown resilience despite facing subpar defense.

Given his current performance, the Blues might want to consider trading Binnington. If he were one of the league’s elite goaltenders, it would make sense to keep him unless a top offer came in. But with the league-leading 48 goals allowed and his inconsistent performances (just seven quality starts in 16 games), it’s becoming clear that Binnington’s value to the Blues is diminishing.

Binnington still holds value for teams like the Colorado Avalanche, who could use an additional goaltender and may be willing to make a trade closer to the deadline. A change of scenery could benefit him, especially if he joins a more competitive team with better defense. Additionally, with the younger Joel Hofer showing more promise, Binnington may not be the long-term answer for St. Louis. If the Blues continue to struggle this season, it may be wise to explore trading Binnington before the deadline, especially if the team’s situation looks like a lost cause.