Elliotte Friedman just threw cold water on the idea of the Edmonton Oilers chasing Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
Mike Babcock's club has been linked to the St. Louis netminder since Friedman first raised trade noise around him. We reported on that interest on Sunday, when the Oilers were named as a fit, and the conversation has only grown louder among fans since.
Friedman's latest comments change the temperature.
Friedman's report on Binnington's availability was the starting point, and today he pushed back on the idea that Edmonton is ready to pounce. He pointed to the way Devon Levi has played and said Tristan Jarry has been pretty good, adding that he doesn't believe the Oilers are rushing to make a move.
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That is a notable shift for a team that sits first in the Pacific Division at 12-3-3. The Oilers have no obvious crease emergency, and Friedman's read reflects it.
Both goalies have played eight games this season, so the workload has been shared evenly. Jarry is listed as day-to-day with an illness, according to the latest injury report, which is worth watching as Edmonton hosts the Rangers tonight.
Does Binnington still make sense for anyone?
For Edmonton, probably not right now. Levi is 24 and has 47 career games, a thin résumé, but if Friedman's description holds, he has earned the right to keep the job without a veteran looking over his shoulder.
Adding a 33-year-old starter to a tandem that is working would be a solution in search of a problem. Edmonton's 55 goals against are not the profile of a team desperate for goaltending help.
The Blues are a different story. St. Louis is 7-8-2, sits 25th in the NHL and has lost three straight, including a 3-1 defeat in Nashville on Saturday. Binnington's contract runs through this season with UFA status at expiry, which keeps him squarely in the trade conversation.
So the market for him may need another buyer. Friedman's comments narrow the list of obvious fits, and St. Louis hosts the Red Wings on Tuesday with the noise still hanging over its crease.
Quick hits
NEW YORK RANGERS: Vince Z. has the Rangers eyeing two scratches in Edmonton tonight. Lineup tweaks on the road against the Pacific leaders could say plenty about how the coaching staff sees this one.
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EDMONTON OILERS: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is good to go tonight against the Rangers after skating with a full bubble visor, per RotoWire. Good news for Babcock's lineup.
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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Aaron Portzline reports Conor Garland is out indefinitely with an upper body injury. Rick Bowness already ruled him out for Tuesday against the Panthers.
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VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Manny Malhotra confirmed Filip Chytil and Tom Willander will sit out tonight against the Flyers. The Canucks are already slumping.
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UTAH MAMMOTH: Utah has recalled defenseman Zac Jones from Tucson, with Nate Schmidt's status unclear.
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Should the Oilers stand pat with Levi and Jarry instead of chasing Jordan Binnington?
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