Elliotte Friedman is hearing trade noise around Jordan Binnington, the St. Louis Blues goaltender who is headed toward free agency.
It's an early-November rumor, and nobody should treat it as a done deal. But a 33-year-old goalie with an expiring contract and no extension signed is exactly the kind of name that starts floating around this time of year.
Friedman's Saturday headlines, posted November 7, put Binnington on the list.
Friedman noted that Binnington is a free agent, that he has 10 teams on his no-trade list, and that he is starting to hear some noise around him.
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That's a short note, and it leaves a lot unsaid. It doesn't say which teams are asking, whether the Blues are shopping him, or whether Binnington himself wants out. Those blanks are the story for now.
For those who need a refresher, Binnington was a third-round pick, 88th overall, by the Blues in 2011. He has played 381 regular-season games and 49 playoff games over his NHL career, which makes him one of the most experienced goalies who could realistically be available.
Would a Binnington trade actually work?
The no-trade list matters more than it looks. When 10 teams are off the table, the Blues can't simply take the best offer. Binnington's cooperation is part of any deal, and that narrows the field of buyers who are both interested and acceptable to him.
The money is manageable. His cap hit is $6 million, and the contract runs through the end of this season. A team looking for goaltending help would be renting him, not committing to him.
That rental label is the problem. A team that gives up real assets for a 33-year-old goalie it can only count on until July is paying a premium for a short window, and a goalie's value swings faster than almost any other position. He has appeared in just five games this season, so the sample for a buyer to judge him on is thin.
If the Blues want anything meaningful back, they'll have to find a contender with a real hole in the crease. And if they don't, he walks for nothing next summer.
We'll keep tabs on it, because the next Friedman note will likely tell us whether this is a passing murmur or a market forming.
Quick hits
FLORIDA PANTHERS: Paul Maurice just told reporters that Jacob Markstrom will start in Boston, per Jameson Olive. Markstrom gets the nod for the road game.
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CALGARY FLAMES: The Flames announced that Kevin Bahl goes on injured reserve and needs season-ending surgery for a ruptured Achilles. That's a brutal blow for the blue line.
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Bowen Byram won't return until he sees a "certain specialist," Pro Hockey Rumors reported. That's a vague update, and there's no timeline attached yet.
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WINNIPEG JETS: A post on X this morning says defenseman Elias Salomonsson will be away from the Jets indefinitely for personal reasons. No other details have been given.
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DALLAS STARS: Alex Nedeljkovic wanted a piece of Mikko Rantanen at the end of the second period of the Stars' 4-3 win over the Sharks last night. Things got heated in the crease area before the break.
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Should the Blues trade Jordan Binnington this season?
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