St. Louis Blues weekly standouts: Joel Hofer, Justin Faulk, Jordan Binnington shine in 2025

Jordan Binnington: franchise cornerstone between the pipes

Jordan Binnington’s journey from fourth-round pick to franchise legend reached another milestone this past week, as the veteran netminder posted a .925 save percentage across three starts. His performance against Vancouver on January 27 exemplified why the Blues have built their team identity around his calming presence in net. Despite facing 34 shots, Binnington’s positional awareness and rebound control kept St. Louis within striking distance until the final horn.

The numbers tell only part of the story. Binnington’s 12 wins this season already place him among the league leaders, and his career win total continues to climb higher in the franchise record books. What stands out most in 2025 is his evolution as a complete goaltender. The 31-year-old has refined his puck-handling skills, reducing defensive zone pressure and jumpstarting transitions. This development has been particularly evident during penalty kill situations, where his save percentage has improved to .887, up from .872 earlier in the season.

Leadership qualities shine through Binnington’s preparation and demeanor. Younger defensemen like Colton Parayko have noted how Binnington’s pre-game scouting reports help the entire defensive corps anticipate opposing team tendencies. His partnership with goaltending coach David Alexander has yielded subtle technical adjustments—particularly in his depth management and post-integration—that have made him more efficient laterally across the crease.

The Olympic motivation factor cannot be ignored. Following his stellar performance in the Four Nations Face-Off finals representing Canada, Binnington appears to have an extra gear this season. His compete level in practice has elevated the entire goaltending room, pushing Joel Hofer to sharpen his own game. With the Winter Olympics approaching next month, Binnington’s focus on peak performance benefits the Blues nightly.

Contractually secure and playing the best hockey of his career, Binnington represents stability in an increasingly volatile NHL landscape. His weekly workload management—typically three to four starts—keeps him fresh for critical divisional games while allowing Hofer meaningful development minutes.

Joel Hofer: proving his worth as elite backup

While Jordan Binnington garners headlines, Joel Hofer has quietly assembled one of the strongest backup seasons in recent Blues history. His performance this week—a win against Washington and a quality start versus Colorado—showcased why general manager Doug Armstrong prioritized extending the 25-year-old goaltender. Hofer’s .904 season save percentage might seem modest until you examine his situational excellence: a .921 save percentage in the second half of back-to-back games and a perfect 4-0 record when making consecutive starts.

Hofer’s athleticism stands out immediately to viewers. At 6-foot-5 with remarkable side-to-side quickness, he covers the bottom of the net while his efficient positioning handles the high shots. This combination explained how he stoned Elias Pettersson on three consecutive grade-A chances during the third period of the Canucks matchup. His post-to-post movement has become notably smoother since working with Alexander on integrating his edges more effectively.

The mental growth in Hofer’s game has been equally impressive. Earlier in his career, the occasional blow-up game—where four or more goals would cross the line—frustrated his development. This season, those outings have become rare. When Colorado scored twice in 92 seconds during the second period on Tuesday, Hofer’s response was immediate and composed, stopping the final 18 shots he faced to preserve a one-goal victory.

Contract security has clearly unlocked Hofer’s potential. The two-year extension signed last summer removed any uncertainty about his role, allowing him to focus entirely on his craft. His save percentage in games following contract negotiations: .913, compared to .889 before the deal. The psychological impact of organizational trust cannot be overstated for a position as mentally demanding as goaltending.

Development continues in subtle areas. Hofer and Binnington have developed a true partnership, often staying late after practice to work on puck-handling drills together. This collaborative approach has improved both goalies’ ability to assist their defensemen with breakouts, reducing defensive zone time by an average of 12 seconds per shift over the past month.

Justin Faulk: the do-everything defenseman

Justin Faulk’s revitalization in St. Louis has become one of the franchise’s best success stories, and his contributions this week highlighted why he remains indispensable. Against Vancouver, Faulk logged 21:34 of ice time, registered five shots on goal, and contributed the primary assist on Dylan Holloway’s opening goal. The play showcased his improved vision: recognizing Vancouver’s aggressive penalty kill, Faulk faked a point shot, slid laterally, and threaded a pass through two defenders to Holloway for the tap-in.

The statistical profile reveals Faulk’s all-around impact. His 17 assists rank second among Blues defensemen, while his 72 games played demonstrate remarkable durability for a 33-year-old blueliner. More importantly, Faulk leads the team in blocked shots with 147, often sacrificing his body to protect Binnington and Hofer from high-danger opportunities. This commitment to defense has helped stabilize a unit that struggled early in the season.

Offensive production from the blue line has been crucial for St. Louis’ playoff positioning. Faulk’s six power-play points might seem modest, but his role as the quarterback of the second unit creates space for the top unit to rest while maintaining offensive pressure. His 96 mph slap shot keeps penalty killers honest, and his 54.3% controlled entry rate when leading the rush ranks in the 78th percentile among NHL defensemen.

Leadership extends beyond the ice for Faulk. During the second intermission of the Arizona game, down 3-1, teammates reported Faulk’s passionate speech about defensive responsibility sparked the comeback. The Blues scored four unanswered goals in the third period, with Faulk contributing the game-tying tally. Moments like these explain why coach Drew Bannister trusts Faulk in all situations, including critical defensive zone draws.

Faulk’s partnership with Colton Parayko has evolved into one of the league’s most reliable second pairings. Their complementary styles—Faulk’s offensive instincts balanced by Parayko’s stay-at-home presence—allow Bannister to deploy them against opposing top lines. This matchup responsibility has freed up more sheltered minutes for younger defensemen like Scott Perunovich to develop their offensive games.

What this means for the Blues’ playoff push

The convergence of these three standouts performing at peak levels creates a formidable foundation for St. Louis’ postseason aspirations. Binnington’s veteran presence and Hofer’s emerging reliability give the Blues a goaltending tandem that ranks among the NHL’s best, with a combined .908 save percentage that places them seventh league-wide. This stability allows the team to weather injuries and schedule congestion while maintaining competitive consistency.

Faulk’s leadership and two-way play address a critical need for playoff-style hockey. As games tighten and scoring becomes more difficult, having a defenseman who can contribute offensively while maintaining defensive responsibility becomes invaluable. His experience in 47 career playoff games provides institutional knowledge that will prove crucial for younger teammates experiencing their first postseason run.

The weekly standout performances from this trio have created a ripple effect throughout the lineup. Young forwards like Zachary Bolduc and Jake Neighbours have gained confidence knowing their goaltending and defensive support will be rock-solid. This trust has translated to more aggressive offensive zone play, with the Blues averaging 3.4 goals per game over their past ten contests compared to 2.9 earlier in the season.

Looking ahead, the schedule intensifies with six divisional games in the next two weeks. The Blues’ success in these matchups will likely determine their playoff seeding. With Binnington’s Olympic motivation peaking, Hofer’s continued development, and Faulk’s all-around excellence, St. Louis appears positioned to secure home-ice advantage for the first round. The weekly consistency of these three standouts might just be the difference-maker in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.

For more analysis on the Blues’ roster development and prospect pipeline, check out our coverage of St. Louis Blues standouts of the week and veteran leadership insights throughout the 2025-26 season.