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Oilers make surprise move for player Panthers desperately wanted

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David St-Jean
May 25, 2026  (8:18 PM)
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Nov 22, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) and right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) pile up during a scramble against Edmonton Oilers center Jack Roslovic (28) and defenseman Ty Emberson (49) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena.
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Jordan Binnington is back on the trade radar, and the Edmonton Oilers have jumped into the chase with the Florida Panthers, per a report from Hockey 24|7.

The buzz dropped Monday afternoon. Two contenders. One goalie. And a Stan Bowman team that won't stop tinkering between the pipes.

Binnington carries a $6,000,000 cap hit at age 32. That number sat fine when he was stealing games. It sits differently now.

His season tells the story. The St. Louis Blues netminder posted a .875 save percentage across 40 appearances with just 12 wins and a single shutout.

Behind him, Joel Hofer ran a .909 in 46 games. So the depth chart in St. Louis has already answered the question Doug Armstrong was probably asking himself anyway.

Edmonton's interest reads as the louder signal. Tristan Jarry sits at a .882 in 33 games. Connor Ingram at .898. Calvin Pickard at .870. Bowman has cycled three goalies and still doesn't trust the crease in May.

Why Stan Bowman keeps shopping for a starter he can't seem to find

The Oilers rank 14th overall at 41-30-11 with 93 points and a goals-against per game of 3.3. That ranks closer to a lottery defense than a Cup roster.

For a team built around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, that number is the difference between knocking on a final and getting outscored in a second round.

Florida's angle is louder in a different way. Paul Maurice's group sits 25th overall at 40-38-4. Sergei Bobrovsky has logged 52 games at .876 with a $10,000,000 cap hit.

Binnington is a strange target for both teams. The Blues' starter has not posted a save percentage above league average all year. He's a name. The numbers are not.

Then again, name value moves the needle in May. Edmonton has been chasing a goalie since Bowman walked into that office. Florida wants a different voice in the crease for the next push.

Doug Armstrong holds the cards. Two interested buyers. One contract he'd love off the books. A backup already outplaying his starter.

Whether either club gets to a serious offer is another question. Binnington still has term. The Blues still have leverage. And the goalie market this summer just got louder.