Blues re-sign Joel Hofer: What the depth chart looks like heading into free agency
ST. LOUIS — For months, St. Louis Blues fans have been worried about goaltender Joel Hofer receiving an offer sheet.
It wasn't unwarranted.
The Edmonton Oilers need a goalie, and what could make them happier than retaliating against the Blues, who signed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway away from them via offer sheets last August?
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But if those same Blues fans were listening to general manager Doug Armstrong last week, they were likely less concerned. Armstrong was asked about Hofer's contract situation in his pre-NHL draft news conference and made it clear that the Blues were ready to match any offer sheet if they chose to do so.
'I guess this is my shot across the bow,' Armstrong said Monday. 'You can go after him. You're not going to get him.'
Hofer, 24, would've become a restricted free agent and eligible for an offer sheet if unsigned by Tuesday. On Saturday, though, he signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract extension ($3.4 million average annual value).
Joel Hofer isn't going anywhere. #stlblues
DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/HtKzszk5wM pic.twitter.com/4YzAJcjYmL
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) June 28, 2025
The Blues' goalie tandem for the 2025-26 season is now set with starter Jordan Binnington and Hofer at a combined $9.4 million AAV.
Binnington has two seasons left on his six-year, $36 million contract ($6 million AAV). Hofer had a $775,000 AAV on his expiring two-year contract, so his new $3.4 million AAV will be a sizable raise. Interestingly, with Hofer getting a two-year deal, the contracts of both netminders will be set to expire the same summer, 2027.
Hofer was 16-8-3 in 2024-25 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage this past season. In the past two seasons combined, he has a 2.65 GAA and .909 save percentage, which rank eighth and 12th, respectively, amongst all NHL goalies (minimum 60 games played).
The $3.4 million AAV is substantial for a backup, but Hofer has been heavily relied upon the past two seasons. In 2023-24, Binnington started 55 games and Hofer 27. In 2024-25, Binnington started 54 games and Hofer 28.
The load distribution could be similar in 2025-26 with the NHL participating in the Olympics and a dense schedule expected, particularly post-Olympics.
Pending restricted free agents: Nikita Alexandrov, Mikhail Abramov, Tanner Dickinson
Pending unrestricted free agents: Radek Faksa, Mackenzie MacEachern, Corey Andonovski
Roster hopefuls: Dalibor Dvorsky ($886,666), Zach Dean ($852,500), Dylan Peterson ($867,500)
Pending restricted free agents: Hunter Skinner, Anton Malmstrom
Pending unrestricted free agents: Ryan Suter
Roster hopefuls: Matthew Kessel ($800,000), Corey Schueneman ($775,000), Adam Jiricek ($942,500)
Pending restricted free agents: Vadim Zherenko
Roster hopefuls: Colten Ellis ($775,000)
Cap charges: $90,834,708
Projected bonus overages: $2,153,475
Projected salary cap: $92,988,183
Projected LTIR: $6,500,000 (Torey Krug's salary)
Projected salary-cap space (when using LTIR): $9,011,817
Source: PuckPedia
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