Cranley signs one-year, two-way extension

[Spyro Gyra]

St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the team has signed goaltender Will Cranley to a one-year, two-way contract extension ($775,000 NHL / $85,000 AHL).

Cranley, 23, was originally drafted by the Blues in the sixth round, No. 163 overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft.

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[BluesDom]

The question I have (with all due respect)...Why?
His number stink. Stink, Stank, Stunk. (at every recent level.) His numbers are actually terrible, horrible. (on multiple teams)

Zherenko is in the same boat.

Ellis looks like he has a future. Cranley is a warm body. I guess this is his last shot. I guess they have no other option. Surprised they didnt look at another option. I am curious if I am missing something. His numbers are really really awful. Never seen a goalie with number like his still in the mix.

[bud white]

The question I have (with all due respect)...Why?
His number stink. Stink, Stank, Stunk. (at every recent level.) His numbers are actually terrible, horrible. (on multiple teams)

Zherenko is in the same boat.

Ellis looks like he has a future. Cranley is a warm body. I guess this is his last shot. I guess they have no other option. Surprised they didnt look at another option. I am curious if I am missing something. His numbers are really really awful. Never seen a goalie with number like his still in the mix.

Better the devil you know ... Every team needs goalies in the pipeline because you never know when they will figure it out. Maybe they see something they can still work with. Although they said the same thing about Husso. He was the Faberge Egg and Binnington was a warm body. How'd that turn out?

Hockey continues to be one of the toughest sports to evaluate young talent - with goalies and defensemen being the toughest to predict.

[BluesDom]

Fair enough. I guess this is a huge year for him. Im assuming Zherenko finds work elsewhere now?

[callitwhatyouwant]

Probably a signal of where things are going with the main squad. We have 2 years left on Binners contract. Hofer will definitely get an extension thru that point. They will then have to make the decision on extending Binner until retirement or move to Hofer. I am sure that decision won't be goalie related, but if we are contending for a conference final or not. If we are, I assume Binner stays until the gas runs on E. If we kind of sputter for a few years trying to figure out the right formula while the young forwards are coming thru the system, Hofer might get the reigns. Either way, if Ellis is the guy over Zherenko, they are going to give him all the time they can over the next 2 seasons while they wait to see what the other moves need to be. Probably need to get a 21 year old in the system incase those guys become trade assets.

[noted]

Probably a signal of where things are going with the main squad. We have 2 years left on Binners contract. Hofer will definitely get an extension thru that point. They will then have to make the decision on extending Binner until retirement or move to Hofer. I am sure that decision won't be goalie related, but if we are contending for a conference final or not. If we are, I assume Binner stays until the gas runs on E. If we kind of sputter for a few years trying to figure out the right formula while the young forwards are coming thru the system, Hofer might get the reigns. Either way, if Ellis is the guy over Zherenko, they are going to give him all the time they can over the next 2 seasons while they wait to see what the other moves need to be. Probably need to get a 21 year old in the system incase those guys become trade assets.

I wouldn't be shocked if Hofer is moved this off-season. Ellis looks ready to do what Hofer did last 2 years and play about 1/3 of games in NHL. Binnington has plenty left in the tank. Hofer could return a lot in return. Preferably a young RHD.

[seattleblue]

a pending RFA backup goaltender is not returning a young RHD (the kind you want)

[callitwhatyouwant]

a pending RFA backup goaltender is not returning a young RHD (the kind you want)

Yea, hofer still needs some seasoning too. He has to prove that he deserves 1A time somewhere else. Last year he showed it. This year he was good not better. So just let him build up that consistency and teams will take a flyer. But if he puts up legit numbers then becomes Trade bait or takeover

[STL fan in MN]

Hopefully this isn’t a sign they feel like Zherenko won’t be re-signing. But with Ellis getting a 2 year extension, I could see him not liking his odds and perhaps returning to Russia.

Cranley…is just a body. Barely ECHL caliber to date but maybe the Blues see growth potential. Idk.

[sdaltons]

I don't think it hurts to have a guy on the depth chart who is just a guy.

Like if Binny or Hofer were to miss time, the other one is basically the 100% starter so you let a guy like Cranley ride the bench.

[thegibby.]

Tall and lanky sounds familiar. 2ins taller and 10lbs heavier.