When Jordan Binnington’s name started surfacing in trade chatter, it was easy to see why Edmonton Oilers fans perked up. A Stanley Cup ring.
Three straight seasons with 25-plus wins from 2022-23 through 2024-25. On paper, that sounds like the kind of resume that can tempt a team still trying to settle its crease.
But Edmonton should slow this down.
The Oilers do not need to jump at a Binnington deal right now, and the case for patience is stronger than the case for urgency. Goaltending has burned this team before, and another swing at the position would bring more risk into a spot that already carries plenty of it.
Binnington’s numbers have been sliding since his Cup-winning season, and the downturn has become harder to ignore. In two of his last four seasons, he finished with a winning percentage below .900, and both of those years also came with a goals-against average above 3.30.
This season has opened even rougher. Through five appearances, the Richmond Hill, Ontario native is 1-3-1, has allowed well over four goals per game, and owns an .851 save percentage.
He has given up at least three goals in four of his first five starts, including a 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the opener.
That kind of start would make any team think twice, and for Edmonton it should be a hard stop.
For once, though, the Oilers have a little more breathing room in goal than they usually do. The names are still a little strange together - Edmonton, Oilers, good, goaltending - but this season the results have been enough to keep the position from becoming a nightly crisis.
Jarry is 4-1-3 with two shutouts, Devon Levi is 7-1-0 despite a .889 save percentage, and Matt Tomkins has already delivered a near-shutout. Frederik Andersen still has not shown up yet, but the group has done enough to keep Edmonton from being forced into a panic move.
That matters, because Binnington’s current form would erase that cushion in a hurry. He could absolutely rebound in a new setting, but that possibility alone is not a reason to pay a premium for him.
And if Edmonton did decide to call, the price would have to reflect the risk. The Oilers would likely want St.
Louis to take on at least a quarter of Binnington’s $6 million cap hit this season. In return, Edmonton would probably be looking at either a first-round pick - with the Blues controlling their first-rounders for the next four seasons - or a player who can help right away.
Pius Suter fits that kind of discussion. He brings depth scoring and recent postseason experience after being part of the Vancouver Canucks team that faced Edmonton in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The money would still need more massaging, though. Edmonton would want the Blues to absorb a contract or two of their own to make the deal work, and Jake Walman would be part of that kind of framework.
His $7 million cap hit means the Oilers would likely have to add a prospect to keep St. Louis engaged, probably a bottom-six forward with a cap hit under $1 million.
That piece could also be replaced if the Blues took on another quarter of Binnington’s cap hit.
Even with all of that, the smarter play is still to wait.
This situation can swing fast. Binnington could turn it around and St.
Louis could decide to keep him until the deadline. Edmonton’s early goaltending could cool off.
Frederik Andersen could return and give the Oilers another solid option, turning the crease into something closer to a trio.
Those are all real possibilities over the next few months, which is exactly why Edmonton should hold off and reassess in mid-to-late January. By then, the Oilers will have a much clearer picture of their roster after half a season, and they will know better where the real needs are.
If they move too early and chase Binnington now, they could wind up with an experienced but struggling goalie and another messy cap situation.
That is a combination Edmonton can’t really afford.
In Other News...
Oilers Win Came With A Bench Blunder Fans Will Debate
A win is a win, but Edmonton left the kind of side note that tends to linger with a fan base. The Oilers controlled enough of the night to bank two points, yet a blown power play sequence turned a comfortable edge into a little more stress than it needed to be, and it was the sort of bench detail that can get replayed long after the final horn.
Head coach Mike Babcock said the issue came down to a miscommunication behind the bench, which delayed the timeout call at a moment when Edmonton could have steadied things. He also pointed to the teams lighthearted rule for coach mistakes, with a donation going to the Childrens Cancer Society when the bench gets it wrong, a reminder that even in a victory, there was still a small penalty attached to the mess. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Made A Connor Hellebuyck Call Fans Wont Love
The goaltending market keeps getting a little more interesting around the Oilers, even if one of the names that had been floating around is not currently in play. With Edmonton always under a microscope when it comes to crease help, any hint of movement tends to draw attention, especially when the conversation is being fed by league chatter and speculation from outside the organization.
For now, the more immediate reminder is how quickly a goalie storyline can turn into a referendum on trust and timing. The Devils drew plenty of attention for their decision in Connor Hellebuycks return game against Winnipeg, and the reaction around that call showed how sensitive these situations can be for both players and fans. Edmonton will keep watching the market, but the latest noise only reinforces how much uncertainty still hangs over it. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers May Have A Jake Walman Problem They Didn't Expect
Jake Walmans first stretch with the Oilers has not gone the way either side likely imagined. He has been a healthy scratch five times in the last seven games, and when he has dressed, his ice time has been limited enough to suggest the coaching staff is still searching for a fit. For a player brought in to help stabilize the blue line, that is not the kind of early-season usage anyone wants to see.
Mike Babcock has made it clear the issue goes beyond just missed chances or uneven puck movement. The concern is Walmans play away from the puck, where the staff believes he is not meeting the standard the team needs. If that does not change, Edmonton may eventually have to weigh a difficult decision on a player with trade protection and a long-term contract, which makes the next few weeks worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]