NHL insider Nick Kypreos has speculated that St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington could be traded to the Edmonton Oilers in a potential blockbuster deal. The trade would likely center on Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner heading to St. Louis. Discussions may also involve acquiring a Blues defenseman amid Oilers goaltending concerns.
Edmonton Oilers fans have expressed frustration with their goaltending situation as the team aims for another deep playoff run. Backlash has targeted Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, with Skinner's consistency highlighted as a key issue despite recent solid performances. In a report by Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, heavy speculation links the Oilers to St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has one season left on his contract after 2026-27.
Kypreos noted, “Binnington has one more season on his contract, and the sense is he won’t be part of any re-tool the Blues might undergo. The strongest speculation ties Binnington to Edmonton, and that the Oilers are also seeing if they can get a defenceman out of St. Louis at the same time. That potential deal would most likely be built around Stuart Skinner going back to St. Louis to team up with Hofer.” Possible Blues defensemen mentioned include Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko, though specifics remain unclear.
Binnington, 32, has struggled this 2025-26 season with a 3.13 goals-against average (GAA), .880 save percentage (SV%), and third-worst goals-saved-above-expected (GSAX) of -6.0 through 15 games, posting five wins. In comparison, Skinner has a 3.00 GAA, .885 SV%, and 2.9 GSAX through 17 games, with eight wins and one shutout. Despite Binnington's slower start on a struggling Blues team (five wins, nine losses), his playoff pedigree stands out: he won the 2019 Stanley Cup with St. Louis and posted a .901 SV% in seven games against Winnipeg last spring. He also starred for Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off, making key saves in the final against the United States, and is expected to start for Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The deal faces hurdles due to Binnington's $6 million cap hit, while Skinner's expires at $2.6 million. Oilers could move contracts like Brett Kulak ($2.75 million) or Mattias Janmark to create space, potentially targeting a low-cost Blues defenseman like Tyler Tucker ($925,000). While not imminent, the speculation underscores ongoing Oilers efforts to bolster their net for contention.