Jordan Binnington rumored to be on the trade block; who is a good fit?
Rumors around St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington have been making the rounds on the internet; which teams would realistically trade for him?
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has been a polarizing player throughout his career, but he's been a solid goaltender for the Blues. Binnington has played in 294 career games all with the Blues. His best season came in the 2019-2020 season, where he started in 50 games earning 30 wins and 13 losses. Binnington finished with a goals against average of 2.57 with a save percentage of .912. Now, trade rumors have been flying, and there are a few teams that I think could use his services.
Carolina Hurricanes
Reports are split on the injury sustained by the Hurricanes starting goaltender Fedrick Anderson, but the belief is that he could be out for a long time. If Anderson is out for an extended period of time, Carolina could be interested in taking on Binnington's contract. The Hurricanes have struggled against teams with better goaltending in the playoffs like the New York Rangers, and trading for Binnington could give them a strength in that position they haven't had. However, if Anderson is out for a shorter period of time then it seems, the Hurricanes may take a chance that they can remain in the hunt without their starting goaltender. If I were them though, I wouldn't take that chance.
The Hurricanes have a roster that can win now, that is for certain. However, they have never been able to get past the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference, and with teams such as the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals finding their stride, the Canes need to be able to keep up. In my opinion, the way to do that is through improving their goaltending.
Detriot Red Wings
This is an interesting trade, but I think it works for both parties. The Red Wings are no doubt looking to find thier way back to the playoffs. Signing Vladimir Tarasenko and resigning Patrick Kane were keys that the Red Wings wanted to be more competitive. Their goaltending hasn't been the worst in the league, but it could be better. Adding Bennington could give the Red Wings more of a permanent veteran starter in front of Alex Lyon. As of now, Cam Talbot has been getting the majority of starts for Detroit in net, and he's been ok to start the season. In ten games, Talbot has a 5-3 record with a .927 save percentage. However, at 37, Talbot doesn't have much time left. If Detroit is serious about contending in the next few seasons, trading for Bennington might not be a horrible idea.
However, it doesn't solve all of the problems that Detroit has. Their skaters have been inconsistent. Forward Lucas Raymond currently leads the team in points with 16 in 17 games. Not bad, but you want someone leading your team in scoring to be getting a few more points. Kane hasn't had the impact that he had last season. It's still early, and Detroit could very well figure some things out before crunch time approaches. But, if the Red Wings really are focused on getting better and competing, I think getting a capable starter in Bennington would only serve them well.
Bennington hasn't blown away anyone to start the season, as he's currently 5-7 with a 3.20 goals against average and a save percentage below .900. However, he is on a team that isn't that good, as the Blues have started out the season 8-10. Bennington could find a new home as the season continues, and I'll wager it'll be to one of these two teams.