Report: Binnington Could Ask Out of St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues find themselves in a four-game losing skid after blowing another third-period lead Thursday night. Some are now beginning to question how happy goaltender Jordan Binnington will be with the continued losing.

A report from Jimmy Murphy in rg.com quotes NHL executives suggesting that Binnington could ask for a trade this season.

After allowing three unanswered goals in the third period to the Boston Bruins in a 3-2 loss the other night, and another collapse down the stretch to the Buffalo Sabres two days later, one rival team exec commented:

Did you see the body language on Binnington and then his teammates after the Bruins tied the game?
I wonder if Binnington asks out eventually? He’s a gamer, and yeah, I think he’s tasted a Cup before, so he will want more. There are teams that have a chance and could use him.

Bennington, 31, backstopped the Blues to the Stanley Cup in 2019, added an All-Star appearance the following year, and has been pretty solid since. He has a career .907 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average.

The netminder still has another two years left after this one on a $6 million cap hit.

Murphy goes on to suggest that the Carolina Hurricanes would be the hottest suitor for Binnington's services if it came to that, as the team has learned they will be without goalie Frederik Andersen for a long, extended period (as reported on Friday, he is no longer considered week-to-week, but will be out "way longer" according to head coach Rod Brind'Amour).

The Blues and Hurricanes situations will be ones to watch going forward.