Goalie thoughts
Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Blues Talk Moderators
Goalie thoughts
We have winnington, Hofer, Ellis and Zherenko
Do we trade Binny for a package, and Keep hofer and bring ellis up
Do we Trade hofer for a 1st maybee and then bring ellis up let Zherenko start ion AHL
WHhat do you guys think is the best course of action.
Do we trade Binny for a package, and Keep hofer and bring ellis up
Do we Trade hofer for a 1st maybee and then bring ellis up let Zherenko start ion AHL
WHhat do you guys think is the best course of action.
Re: Goalie thoughts
Keep the status quo for now.
Re: Goalie thoughts
I'm with Aesa, keep it the way it is, for now. Blues have one of the better tandems in the league, and you just never know what can happen during the season.
-
BalotelliMassive
- Forum User
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: 24 May 2024 10:31 am
Re: Goalie thoughts
Top 25 affiliated goalie prospects
For goaltenders to be considered a prospect, the criteria are somewhat different: they must be 25 years old or younger and have played fewer than 15 games in the previous season, or they should not have spent a substantial amount of time in the NHL over the past three years. Blomqvist, for example, was promoted after playing 15 games with Pittsburgh last year.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-2 ... um=twitter
For goaltenders to be considered a prospect, the criteria are somewhat different: they must be 25 years old or younger and have played fewer than 15 games in the previous season, or they should not have spent a substantial amount of time in the NHL over the past three years. Blomqvist, for example, was promoted after playing 15 games with Pittsburgh last year.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-2 ... um=twitter
Last edited by BalotelliMassive on 27 Aug 2025 09:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
the miracle
- Forum User
- Posts: 242
- Joined: 24 May 2024 12:14 pm
Re: Goalie thoughts
No need to change anything.
Hofer is 25, Ellis is 24, and Zherenko is 23. I'd hazard a guess that if Hofer continues playing at the level he did last year, Ellis and Zherenko never see the BlueNote. Binnington has a modified no trade list, which I'd also guess includes most bottom feeder teams that are most in need of a goalie (thereby limiting your best trade partners).
Honestly, wouldn't mind seeing them move on from Ellis or Zherenko and try to find a couple of 18 year old's to be the next wave after Hofer.
Hofer is 25, Ellis is 24, and Zherenko is 23. I'd hazard a guess that if Hofer continues playing at the level he did last year, Ellis and Zherenko never see the BlueNote. Binnington has a modified no trade list, which I'd also guess includes most bottom feeder teams that are most in need of a goalie (thereby limiting your best trade partners).
Honestly, wouldn't mind seeing them move on from Ellis or Zherenko and try to find a couple of 18 year old's to be the next wave after Hofer.
Re: Goalie thoughts
Absolutely. We have two more full seasons not having to do anything. Let it simmer. We'll know by the Spring/Summer of 2027 if we are best to try to keep them both, or just one, or neither, and if one of those two minor leaguers are the next best. But it wouldn't hurt to emphasize tracking & scouting the world for the next couple of youngsters to bring into the prospect pool during that time.
If a long-term injury happens, then reevaluate. We hopefully give Hofer 10 more games to keep Binnington fresh. Fatigue increases injury chances too.
We are in a good spot with our goalies. Like everything else, superstars are great, but so is balance and depth on the bench.
-
STL fan in MN
- Forum User
- Posts: 2684
- Joined: 23 May 2024 13:57 pm
Re: Goalie thoughts
As of today? You do absolutely nothing. Binner, Hofer and Ellis are all signed for 2 more years. They have close to 2 years to figure out what to do next. In that time, maybe Binner starts to show his age. In that time, maybe Hofer really takes off. Maybe he falters. Same with Ellis. We’ll have a much clearer picture 12-18 months from now. Absolutely no need to do anything today.
Zherenko will be a UFA this summer*. Cranley will be a RFA this summer but I don’t value him much at all. But the top 3 guys are really the only 3 that matter. Maybe Zherenko or Cranley get themselves back on the radar but for now, they’re just filling spots and can be pretty easily replaced if/when needed.
That said, I would like to see Ellis play at least a couple NHL games this season. He was lights out in the AHL last season but the caliber of shooters in the NHL is just a whole different level. I’d like to see him get a taste of it. Not sure how that happens if both Binner and Hofer stay 100% healthy again but for Ellis’ development, that’s what he needs.
*Zherenko will remain a RFA if he plays 28 games in the NHL this season but that’s very very unlikely to happen.
Zherenko will be a UFA this summer*. Cranley will be a RFA this summer but I don’t value him much at all. But the top 3 guys are really the only 3 that matter. Maybe Zherenko or Cranley get themselves back on the radar but for now, they’re just filling spots and can be pretty easily replaced if/when needed.
That said, I would like to see Ellis play at least a couple NHL games this season. He was lights out in the AHL last season but the caliber of shooters in the NHL is just a whole different level. I’d like to see him get a taste of it. Not sure how that happens if both Binner and Hofer stay 100% healthy again but for Ellis’ development, that’s what he needs.
*Zherenko will remain a RFA if he plays 28 games in the NHL this season but that’s very very unlikely to happen.
Re: Goalie thoughts
Re: Goalie thoughts
Ellis is signed through 2026-27, at which point he'll be a RFA.
source: https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/player/_/id ... lten-ellis
Re: Goalie thoughts
so hofer4 signed a 1 year or two year as well. I got that confused
Re: Goalie thoughts
Trade JB?
I get a thread to generate conversation and I will respect that but NO, you do not trade JB and it includes whatever realistic great package would/could come our way.
JB is the heart and sole of this team. He may be the biggest supporter of his mates I have ever seen on a Blues team. One or two clowns here have chided him for this level of support or the way he has shown it but this dude plays to win every second he is on the ice.
If he truly falls into the crapper....sure....consider it. Otherwise.... not just not trade him but extend him.
This guy is going to win another Cup and it better be here.
Re: Goalie thoughts
Some questions have clear obvious answers, this is one of those.
-
STL fan in MN
- Forum User
- Posts: 2684
- Joined: 23 May 2024 13:57 pm
Re: Goalie thoughts
Hofer is also signed for 2 more years.Nublues69 wrote: ↑27 Aug 2025 13:59 pmso hofer4 signed a 1 year or two year as well. I got that confused
All contract details can be found here:
https://puckpedia.com/team/st-louis-blues
Or here:
https://capwages.com/teams/st_louis_blues
Or here:
https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/yearly
Pick whichever one you find most ascetically pleasing.
Re: Goalie thoughts
We're good for the next couple years. I would like to see Hofer get more games(35+?) especially this year with Binnington likely carrying the Olympic load for Canada. Need to start better understanding what you have in Hofer which will dictate anything in the future with Binnington and Ellis.
Re: Goalie thoughts
These are the options that have been talked about on the fastlane and midday show on 101. So you dont wnt to trade JB do you keep hofer or do keep ellis. Ellis is younger and seems to be the better of the two in ahl stats. Just curiosdhsux wrote: ↑27 Aug 2025 18:33 pmTrade JB?
I get a thread to generate conversation and I will respect that but NO, you do not trade JB and it includes whatever realistic great package would/could come our way.
JB is the heart and sole of this team. He may be the biggest supporter of his mates I have ever seen on a Blues team. One or two clowns here have chided him for this level of support or the way he has shown it but this dude plays to win every second he is on the ice.
If he truly falls into the crapper....sure....consider it. Otherwise.... not just not trade him but extend him.
This guy is going to win another Cup and it better be here.
Re: Goalie thoughts
Whoever would keep Ellis over Joel has to actually know Ellis is nhl ready and able. Because Joel is that. Hofer has gotten better each year imo not sure how Ellis supplants him without getting Ellis into quite few Blues games.Nublues69 wrote: ↑28 Aug 2025 07:34 amThese are the options that have been talked about on the fastlane and midday show on 101. So you dont wnt to trade JB do you keep hofer or do keep ellis. Ellis is younger and seems to be the better of the two in ahl stats. Just curiosdhsux wrote: ↑27 Aug 2025 18:33 pmTrade JB?
I get a thread to generate conversation and I will respect that but NO, you do not trade JB and it includes whatever realistic great package would/could come our way.
JB is the heart and sole of this team. He may be the biggest supporter of his mates I have ever seen on a Blues team. One or two clowns here have chided him for this level of support or the way he has shown it but this dude plays to win every second he is on the ice.
If he truly falls into the crapper....sure....consider it. Otherwise.... not just not trade him but extend him.
This guy is going to win another Cup and it better be here.
I really don't think JB will be traded as long as he remains a steady starter and a strong big game player. In addition, he's a big face for this franchise and its fans.