Since the 2018-19 season, Jordan Binnington has been the de facto No. 1 goalie for the St. Louis Blues, but that is all starting to change.

Binnington is a Blues legend, and that will never change. The 2019 playoff run he went on to help bring the Blues their first Stanley Cup was magical. The team is different now, with key members of the 2019 championship team, including Alex Pietrangelo, Ryan O’Reilly, Brayden Schenn, and Vladimir Tarasenko, all gone.

Binnington is one of the few remaining players from that championship team, and rightfully or wrongly, has had to deal with a lot of criticism during this transition period. Now, his role is beginning to change, with Hofer taking on more responsibility. But Binnington still has plenty to offer.

The change did not happen overnight, but it is time for Joel Hofer to take over as the No. 1 goalie. Over the last three seasons, Hofer has taken on a larger role, starting more games than Binnington last season. That trend has continued this season, with Hofer starting five games to Binnington’s three. It is now Hofer’s time in St. Louis.

Changing of the Guard

In Hofer’s first two full seasons with St. Louis, he started 27 and 28 games, with Binnington remaining the clear No. 1 goaltender. Binnington was still playing at a high level, posting a 2.84 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 2023-24. Binnington’s goals-against average improved in 2024-25 to 2.69, but his save percentage fell to .900.

The transition to Hofer as the Blues’ No. 1 goalie started last season. Binnington struggled for the majority of last year, posting career lows in goals-against average (3.33) and save percentage (.873) in a season in which he started more than three games. Hofer, on the other hand, had the best season of his career. He had a 2.61 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage to go with six shutouts. According to Money Puck, Hofer had a goals saved above expected (GSAx) rating of 11.7, putting him in a tie for 12th. Binnington was last in the league among goalies with at least one start in this category with -22.4, making the transition to Hofer an easier decision.

The biggest indication that Hofer had taken over as the Blues’ starting goaltender came when he started the season opener. It was the first time Binnington had not started the season opener since taking over as the starter after the 2019 Stanley Cup run. Hofer was excellent in the opener, stopping all 25 shots he faced as the Blues beat the Dallas Stars 4-0. He has started five games so far this season and has looked every bit like the starting goalie of the present and the future for the Blues, posting a 2.43 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Hofer had a difficult outing against the Minnesota Wild, allowing five goals on 39 shots. Games like that show why having someone with Binnington’s experience is still valuable.

Binnington Still Has Plenty to Offer

If this is truly the start of Hofer becoming the unquestioned No. 1 goalie for the Blues, there is no better goalie for him to learn from than Binnington. The two share many similarities in their games. The most striking similarity is their ability to handle the puck. Binnington has established himself as one of the best puck-handling goalies in the NHL, getting the most votes in the NHLPA player poll in April. Hofer was not far down the list, receiving the fourth most votes.

The two have spent time together after practice, passing the puck back and forth to work on their puck-handling abilities. Hofer described it as a way to stay loose while still working on their games back in 2024 in an article by Jacob Stinson. “Obviously in practice, everybody’s trying to get better. That’s just something we like to practice a bit is just shooting pucks back and forth. Just little things to keep it loose and something to get better at,” Hofer said. Clearly, the extra work the two put in together has benefited both of them.

Head coach Jim Montgomery has also discussed the dynamic the two bring to the Blues. “Their ability to play the puck, their ability to compete in that blue paint and manage the games gives us a lot of confidence,” Montgomery said during training camp, as reported by Caleb Herrera. Their similar styles, particularly their ability to handle the puck, allow the Blues to maintain a consistent approach without having to change depending on which goalie is in the crease.

Hofer’s play on the ice has proven that he is ready to take over, but that does not mean Binnington’s time in St. Louis is ticking down. Binnington knows what it takes to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL and what it takes to win. The NHL season is a rollercoaster, filled with many ups and downs, and having someone with his experience is going to be important for Hofer. That is not to say that Binnington cannot still contribute on the ice. If history has taught us anything, it is that Binnington will continue to fight, and having that mentality will only help push Hofer to be his absolute best.