Report: Jordan Binnington Trade Rumors Grow After Friedman Update: Could Rangers Make a Move?

Jordan Binnington trade rumors are gaining momentum. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported on November 7 that he is beginning to hear trade chatter surrounding the St. Louis Blues goaltender. With Joel Hofer taking over the starting job, Binnington’s future in St. Louis is becoming a significant NHL trade-market storyline.

I’ve covered NHL trades and salary-cap developments for NHLTradeRumor.com since February 2010, and three factors stand out: Binnington’s expiring contract, his reduced workload, and the shortage of proven goaltenders available to teams with playoff ambitions.

Could the New York Rangers emerge as a fit? With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, it’s a situation worth examining. However, Friedman did not identify the Rangers, any other interested team, or an active trade negotiation. The proposed deal below is my independent analysis, not an insider-reported offer.

Jordan Binnington Trade Rumors: What Elliotte Friedman Revealed

During Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines segment, Friedman said he was “starting to hear some noise” involving Binnington.

The 33-year-old’s numbers help explain the uncertainty. Through five starts in 2026-27, Binnington has a 1-3-1 record, a .851 save percentage, and a 4.27 goals-against average. Hofer, meanwhile, has started 12 games with a .919 save percentage and a 2.36 GAA.

Binnington is playing the final season of his six-year, $36 million contract. His $6 million annual cap hit and 10-team no-trade list complicate a move, but his pending unrestricted free agency could make him an attractive short-term acquisition.

For context, our October 28 Binnington trade analysis examined Chris Johnston’s decision to place him on his NHL trade board. Friedman’s latest comments add another credible development to the conversation.

Jordan Binnington Mock Trade: Could the Rangers Make the Salary Cap Work?

Any Binnington trade requires more than identifying a team that needs a goaltender. The acquiring club must accommodate his contract, while St. Louis must receive enough value to justify moving a franchise veteran.

Proposed Rangers-Blues Trade With 50% Salary Retention

At 50% retention, St. Louis would keep $3 million of Binnington’s cap hit for the remaining contract term. New York would acquire a $3 million annualized commitment. With approximately $4.70 million in current cap space, the Rangers have a workable starting point, subject to roster and LTIR accounting.

That retention would also help St. Louis, reducing its annualized cap commitment by $3 million and recovering a second-round selection. With a 2027 first-round pick already in hand but no second-rounder of its own listed by PuckPedia, another early selection could be useful.

Why Jordan Binnington Could Fit the New York Rangers

Igor Shesterkin’s Injury Creates a Goaltending Decision

The Rangers’ goaltending picture changed dramatically when Shesterkin suffered a season-ending knee injury. Rookie Dylan Garand has absorbed a heavy workload, while Joonas Korpisalo has returned from injury. New York also placed veteran James Reimer on unconditional waivers November 7.

Those circumstances make an experienced replacement worth evaluating, even though New York has not been publicly linked to Binnington by Friedman.

The Rangers have an established top defensive pair featuring Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox, with Marcus Pettersson and Braden Schneider behind them. Their forward group includes Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafrenière, J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev.

Binnington would not change those lines. He could, however, allow coach Mike Sullivan to distribute starts more conservatively and avoid placing the entire goaltending burden on Garand.

The counterargument is significant: Binnington’s .851 save percentage does not establish him as an immediate upgrade. New York would be acquiring postseason experience and betting on a rebound, not purchasing guaranteed stability.

What the St. Louis Blues Would Want in Return

Blues general manager Alexander Steen is reshaping the roster around a younger nucleus that includes Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud and Philip Broberg. The organization has been transitioning toward younger talent without abandoning its goal of returning to the playoffs.

If Hofer remains the starter, moving Binnington could turn an expiring veteran asset into draft capital while opening the door for a less expensive backup.

There is precedent. In June 2025, Anaheim traded John Gibson to Detroit for Petr Mrázek and second- and fourth-round selections. Gibson had two seasons remaining, and Anaheim did not retain salary.

Binnington’s weaker recent performance and expiring deal make a lower guaranteed return reasonable, even with retention. A second-round pick is my proposed negotiating price, not a reported asking price from Steen.

Jordan Binnington Rumor Meter: How Likely Is a Rangers Trade?

Geoff Hannah’s Take: Will Jordan Binnington Be Traded?

My expectation is that St. Louis will seriously evaluate offers for Binnington before the 2027 NHL trade deadline. With Hofer emerging and Binnington approaching unrestricted free agency, keeping both goalies through the entire season may deliver less long-term value than converting the veteran into a draft pick.

The Rangers are a plausible destination, but I would not call them the front-runner without verified interest. I see a better chance of a Binnington trade developing later in the season than an immediate November deal. His next several performances could substantially affect that timeline.

I’ll continue following his situation and updating our NHL trade tracker as credible reports emerge.