Jordan Binnington was under intense pressure — and scrutiny — at this time last year.
The Canadian goaltender faced plenty of questions heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off thanks to some iffy numbers in the NHL.
Binnington shrugged it off and again stepped up in big moments, especially the final versus the United States when he made a string of jaw-dropping overtime saves, before Connor McDavid scored in overtime to seal a memorable victory.
The Stanley Cup winner’s stat line is even more suspect in 2025-26, but if Canada does indeed tap the St. Louis Blues netminder on the shoulder, Binnington will be ready — and keen to once again prove his doubters wrong.
“I just stay in my own world,” the 34-year-old said of outside noise. “Put the trust in my process, have faith and belief in myself, and just leave it all on the ice.”
Head coach Jon Cooper kept his cards close Wednesday, declining to publicly name his starting netminder for the country’s opener against Czechia at the Milan Cortina Olympics some 24 hours before its NHL stars return to the sporting world’s biggest stage.
Binnington had one of the nets for most of an hour-long practice, while Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson shared duties at the other end.
And while Cooper didn’t announce Binnington as his No. 1, the words that followed strongly suggested the Richmond Hill, Ont., product will lead the Canadian men’s national team onto the ice Thursday afternoon at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
“On the biggest stage, at the biggest moment, at the biggest time, he delivered,” Cooper said of Binnington’s 4 Nations showing. “I’ve seen that before. There’s just some guys that got the ‘it’ factor. He delivered when we needed him most; is that guaranteed? You’d never know that.
“But everything we watched in that playoff run and what he’s done since, it’s been pretty remarkable.”
That post-season push was Binnington’s incredible performance with the Blues to help win the Cup in 2019, including a title-clinching Game 7 victory on the road.
“There’s a massive belief,” said Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong, who has the same role in St. Louis. “When players see that time and time again, that’s just a foundation that they know that, ‘OK, when push comes to shove, we have faith in this guy.’ I think that’s where they are with Binner right now. We have two excellent partners for him. Our goaltending, I know it’s talked about a lot.
“I have the utmost confidence that we’re going to find the right path.”
Binnington, however, has both the NHL’s 35th-ranked save percentage (.864) and goals-against average (3.65) for the Blues, who sit second-last in the overall standings, among puck-stoppers with at least 25 appearances in 2025-26.
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Thompson, meanwhile, is fifth in save percentage (.912) and GAA (2.45) with the Washington Capitals. Kuemper is 18th in save percentage (.900) and 10th in GAA (2.59) for the Los Angeles Kings.
Kuemper also hoisted the Cup in 2022 when he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche, while Thompson has been one of the league’s best statistical goaltenders over the last two seasons.
“A lot of talent in this group,” Binnington. “Great people, good Canadians.”
Cooper also slightly tweaked some of his combination up front Wednesday.
The top line of Connor McDavid between Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson stayed intact, while Sidney Crosby remained with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.
Nathan MacKinnon had two new wingers with Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart, as did Bo Horvat, who skated between Brad Marchand and Nick Suzuki. The four defence pairs, led by Cale Makar and Devon Toews, were unchanged.
“I’m the last one to sit here and say, ‘Hey you got to do this, you got to do that, you got to be here, got to be there,”‘ Cooper said of practice. “Let the best players in the world go play, and then we’ll tweak things after that.”
The NHL is back at the Olympics after a 12-year break. Canada won gold with its men’s best in 2002, 2010 and 2014 before the league skipped 2018 and backed out four years later due to COVID-19 concerns.
Crosby, who along with blueliner Drew Doughty is looking for a third podium-topping finish, is itching for the puck to drop.
“We’ve had some good practices and some anticipation,” Crosby said. “It’s just time to get going.”
After facing Czechia, Canada will pivot to meet Switzerland on Friday in the second of a back-to-back. The hockey powerhouse wraps up Group A action Sunday against France.
Cooper said whichever goaltender starts the tournament, there’s “a really good chance” one of the other two will be tabbed against the Swiss.
And if it’s Binnington getting the opening act, his big-game resume speaks for itself.
“He’s been there before and backed it up,” Reinhart said. “When the games get the tightest and the toughest — the most is on the line — he steps up and he performs.”
“He has aura,” Cooper added. “In the most positive way possible.”
