Blues Should Be Fine With A Decision To Let Husso Walk in Free Agency

The St. Louis Blues were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in Round 2 as Darren Helm broke the tie with just six seconds remaining in regulation. It was a heartbreaking defeat for the team and fans in St. Louis after they had two leads in the game and were trying to push a Game 7.

Ville Husso got the net back once Jordan Binnington got injured after stepped up his game and took back the starter role during Round 1. Husso went just 2-5 in the playoffs after a stellar regular season. He posted a shutout to start the postseason, but then went downhill fast after that.

His emergence this season in the midst of Binnington's struggles didn't go unnoticed and earned him the starting job for Game 1 of the playoffs. He is an unrestricted free agent and the Blues have very little cap space to work with. Already committed to Binnington for five more seasons at $6 million a year, they can't afford to pay a backup any more money than a couple million at most.

Husso is going to demand more than that and will be looking for a team where he can compete to be the starter after posting a record of 25-7-6, .919 save percentage (SV%), 2.56 goals against average (GAA), two shutouts, and 15.0 goals saved above expected (GSAA).

The Blues regained their confidence in Binnington after Husso's bad playoff performance and Binninton's revival. He is a proven goaltender that has already taken them to a Stanley Cup and Husso is relatively unproven. It would be a risk and likely cost assets to make the moves to trade Binnington and re-sign Husso. The playoffs definitely eased the minds of management and they may be able to find another gem in their system in Joel Hofer like the last two goaltenders to come through and dominate in the NHL.