Trade deadline periods often create early links between teams and players when roster needs become clear. The Carolina Hurricanes were in that spot while dealing with uncertainty in goal and exploring available options.
Jordan Binnington came up during those discussions, but the situation did not move beyond initial interest.
Hurricanes’ Interest in Jordan Binnington Never Turned into Serious Talks
Binnington remained with the St. Louis Blues after the March 6 trade deadline, even though his name was part of several reports. His track record in big games and his recent Olympic performance kept him relevant in trade conversations. Teams, including Carolina, were linked to him, but none pushed the situation forward into a deal.
NHL insider Pierre LeBrun shared details on how Carolina handled its interest and made it clear that talks stayed limited.
He wrote in his recent column for The Athletic, “As for the Binnington-to-Carolina chatter, obviously Tulsky did not comment on that. But league sources suggest that while the Canes checked in on Binnington, that was about the extent of it, just a check-in. Talks never got serious.”
This update showed that the Hurricanes only explored the option at a basic level.
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Carolina’s approach was shaped by its situation in net during that stretch. Injuries to Pyotr Kochetkov and inconsistent goaltending from Frederik Andersen forced the team to look at outside help, but it did not commit to a major move. The Hurricanes chose to stay with their current group and allow time for recovery rather than pay a high price at the deadline.
From the Blues’ side, there was no urgency to move Binnington at a lower return. His $36 million contract carries a $6 million cap hit with one year left, which made teams view him as more than a short-term addition. His 14-team no-trade list also limited flexibility and made it harder to find the right fit.
Performance could have played a role in the decision-making process, as Binnington’s NHL numbers (10-19-6) this season did not match his international play. Teams had to consider that gap when deciding how far to go in discussions, and it likely slowed any real progress.
Looking ahead, the situation could change in the offseason when more teams adjust their rosters and cap space. St. Louis also has Joel Hofer pushing for a larger role, which may influence future decisions. For now, Carolina’s brief check-in remains a small part of a deadline approach that prioritized patience over a major move.
