MONTREAL (AP) 鈥� When Canada won the two most recent major international tournaments featuring the best hockey players in the world, the goaltending of Carey Price was one of the biggest reasons why.
, Hall of Famers like Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo and Patrick Roy are not walking through the door to the dressing room and the birthplace of the sport has arguably never been weaker in net than it is right now. Who might be Canada's starter a year from now remains a question, with the the next chance for one of Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill or Samuel Montembeault to change that perception.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not much to be said, right?" said Binnington, who was named the starter for the tournament opener Wednesday night against Sweden. "It鈥檚 about action, and let that do the talking. I鈥檓 excited. I鈥檓 excited to be here. Us three are all excited to be here. I mean, Canada鈥檚 got a lot of good goaltending, for sure, just like the rest of the world.鈥�
Hill, Montembeault and Binnington rank 30th, 35th and 36th in save percentage in the NHL this season. None are in the top 20 in goals-against average. Just once in the past eight years has someone from Canada won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender.
General manager Don Sweeney said Canada has 鈥渃onfidence in all three guys,鈥� citing Hill with Vegas in 2023 and each backstopping his team to the Stanley Cup and Montembeault learning from playing in the pressure cooker that is Montreal.
Sweeney, who runs the Boston Bruins, who lost to Binnington and the Blues in that final, pointed out he "had a front-row seat for watching Jordan Binnington rise to that occasion
鈥淲e have no qualms about which goaltenders are going into the net,鈥� Sweeney said.
There are plenty of qualms about the three goalies Canada chose for this tournament, leaving at home Washington's Logan Thompson, who is second to Winnipeg's (U.S.-born) Connor Hellebuyck in save percentage. Sweeney acknowledged the prevented his team and others from waiting to see who might have a hot hand.
Since then, all three goalies picked have struggled. Canada is banking on Binnington being closer to form from five years ago than what he has shown in recent months.
鈥淭his kid鈥檚 played in some huge moments and some big games and he鈥檚 a competitor,鈥� coach Jon Cooper said. "Not that the other guys aren鈥檛. These guys are ready to go if anything happens. But Jordan鈥檚 been our guy. That kid鈥檚 got fire in the belly, he鈥檚 a competitor and we鈥檙e really confident in him.鈥�
The always confident Binnington said his game has been 鈥渁ll right鈥� and he has been putting in the time to try to win games.
鈥淧ersonally, I put my right foot forward every day, and I keep my head down and keep working,鈥� said Binnington, who is 15-19-4 with a 2.89 save percentage and .897 goals against average this season. "Whatever comes up, I just handle it the best way I can and now we鈥檙e here.鈥�
Binnington, who will be 32 when the puck drops on the 2026 Milan Olympics, looks like the leader in the clubhouse, in part because his GM with the Blues, Doug Armstrong, is in charge of picking that roster. That would make him next in the line of Brodeur, Luongo and Price.
He is not trying to compare himself to those greats.
鈥淚鈥檓 just going to be me,鈥� Binnington said. "Those guys were themselves, and I鈥檒l be me and we鈥檙e proud to be hockey players from Canada and compete together to be successful.鈥�
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AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
