Elliotte Friedman says there is noise around Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, and the Oilers were named as a fit.
Earlier today, we reported that Friedman's Binnington trade noise report was gaining traction. Now the discussion has a destination.
The Mug NHL passed along that Friedman mentioned the noise, and that a panel said Edmonton should do whatever it takes to bring in Binnington, or someone like Juuse Saros.
-
Binnington is 33 and sits on a $6 million cap hit that expires after this season, when he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. That makes him a rental, and rentals are the easiest goalies to move.
The Blues give a seller's context. St. Louis is 7-8-2, 23rd in the NHL, and just dropped its third straight, a 3-1 loss in Nashville on Saturday. Alexander Steen has a decision coming on a pending free agent in a season that is drifting.
Binnington has played 5 games this season. Nothing in the noise says who else is calling or what the Blues would want back.
Edmonton, meanwhile, is hardly desperate. The Oilers are 12-3-3, first in the Pacific, and 7-0-1 on the road. Devon Levi stopped 20 of 22 shots in Saturday's 4-2 win over Vancouver.
Is Saros a realistic Oilers target?
Not really. Saros is signed through 2032-33, and the very team that beat St. Louis on Saturday is 12th in the NHL and riding a four-game winning streak. Saros made 25 saves in that one. Barry Trotz has no reason to sell.
Binnington is the one with a price tag a contender can actually discuss. An expiring contract, a team going nowhere fast and a buyer with room to be picky is how these deals usually get done. The Oilers have the luxury of waiting for the right number, and Mike Babcock's group can afford that.
Whether Stan Bowman wants to chase goaltending at all is a separate question, and nothing in the noise says he does. Edmonton plays the Rangers Monday, and the Blues host Detroit Tuesday with the noise still hanging over their crease.
Quick hits
LOS ANGELES KINGS: Martin Chromiak is headed back to AHL Ontario, according to Kings beat writer mayorNHL. A routine shuffle, but worth watching who replaces him in the lineup.
-
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Scott Powers reports the Blackhawks will place goalie Arvid Soderblom on waivers today. Nothing is official from the team yet, so keep an eye out for a claim.
-
FLORIDA PANTHERS: Brady Tkachuk and Nikita Zadorov dropped the gloves right at the start of the Panthers-Bruins game at TD Garden, Conor Ryan reports. Zero warm-up needed.
-
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Aaron Portzline reports Denton Mateychuk left Sunday's practice after taking a puck or a stick to the face. Eye scares are never fun, so an update will matter.
-
CALGARY FLAMES: Devin Cooley makes his return start tonight as the Flames host the Flyers, RotoWire reports. Calgary goes back to him in goal for this one.
-
Should the Oilers trade for Jordan Binnington before the deadline?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Brady Tkachuk tries to set the tone at puck drop and runs into Nikita Zadorov
