Although the Edmonton Oilers have already shuffled around their goaltending situation, it has yet to translate into a stronger performance. The team has been exploring avenues to improve their defensive play, but the appetite for more goaltending changes remains.
Now, approaching the trade deadline, it appears that the St. Louis Blues might be looking to trade their starter, Jordan Binnington.
Let’s take a closer look at what a trade for Binnington might look like for the Oilers.
Binnington’s player profile
Binnington is known for his big game performances more than he is for consistent high level play. This is punctuated by huge performances in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, as well as internationally for Team Canada. This was backed up once again at the Olympics, where Binnington seemed to garner praise from his coaches.
To an extent this is contrasted by regular season play that has left more to be desired. The Blues have had their share of struggles since their Stanley Cup win, and often this is used to rationalize some of Binnington’s performances.
Binnington has earned criticism for his comportment on and off the ice, though tensions in these areas seem to have eased. Known for showing more on ice aggression than most goalies, Binnington is seen as a fiery competitor.
Fit on the Edmonton roster
The Oilers seem to have struggled defensively this season, which does not exactly inspire confidence for any goalie in their net. Perhaps time had soured the relationship between the team and Stuart Skinner beyond repair and any change was needed. Perhaps it is too big an ask for Connor Ingram to return to his peak after missing so much time. Perhaps Tristan Jarry was more of a change for change’s sake than he was a true upgrade.
Or maybe all three goalies could provide the Oilers with strong play if they were better supported. Binnington is seen as an outright upgrade over all three, but would also be subjected to the structure in front of him. Adding Paul Coffey behind the bench and trading for Connor Murphy should both help, but the overall focus and attention to detail will have to improve as well.
Given that the Oilers have been so close to winning the Stanley Cup, and that goaltending is often seen as the weakest part of the team, it is self explanatory how Binnington is seen as enough of an upgrade to put them over the top.
With one season left on his deal after this one, Binnington would be an inspiring addition for the Oilers. Team morale could get a boost as well, perhaps helping to convince players to sign with the Oilers. Most importantly, this might include Connor McDavid, underscoring the importance of this potential deal. Many have been critical that the team has not been able to properly address the position during the McDavid era, and in a sense adding Binnington might help to erase that narrative.
Cost to acquire the Canadian goalie
Clearly the Blues are thinking about the future. Longtime GM Doug Armstrong is in his final season at the helm, and is on the record for saying that he wants to leave the team in a strong position for the future. The Blues are rumoured to be exploring trades involving Robert Thomas, a centre in his prime. With backup Joel Hofer coming into his own, dealing a veteran Binnington does seem to fit their intentions.
Surely the Blues will be looking for futures in return for Binnington, but the Oilers will have to work to make his $6M cap hit work. The Oilers might have already dealt themselves into a corner, as Jarry might need to be moved to fit Binnington. Hopefully the Blues are willing to work with the Oilers here, but given that other teams will be interested the Oilers will need to make it worth their while.The question of if the Oilers can afford to trade for Binnington is met with a return—can they afford not to?
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