Jon Cooper’s Olympic confession about Jordan Binnington raises eyebrows
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 12, 2026 (2:13 PM)
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Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Jon Cooper picked Jordan Binnington long before the Olympics opener, and his “358 days ago” line makes it feel like the whole goalie debate was theatre.
He didn’t say it with a wink, either. He said it like a guy admitting the decision was locked in, then letting everyone else burn energy on the noise.
That’s the part that stings. Fans didn’t just debate the starter, we got managed.
Cooper has already shown he can play it coy in public, then be very direct behind closed doors. We saw that vibe during the 4 Nations Face-Off build-up too.
By Thursday, it looked even more calculated, because Binnington went out and slammed the door in Canada’s Olympic opener.
He posted a 26-save shutout in a 5-0 win over Czechia in his Olympic debut. That is a headline result, not a talking point.
So when Cooper jokes he decided “358 days ago,” it reads like a confession. Not about Binnington, but about messaging.
Jon Cooper and Team Canada already chose the path
And yeah, the fan side of me feels a little played, because the “competition” talk was always going to end here.
Here’s what makes it messy. Binnington’s NHL season has been rough, sitting at 8-17-6 with a 3.65 goals-against average and .864 save percentage.
Internationally, Cooper keeps betting on the big-moment version. The Blues version leaks, the Team Canada version steals.
Tactically, Canada can protect him with pace and layers. They win races, limit second looks, and make the first save the only save.
That’s why Cooper can pre-decide it. If the skaters drive the game, the starter just has to be steady between the pipes.
Now the stakes shift. The opener is in the bank, but the next tight game is where this decision gets judged for real.
Also read on HockeyLatest :
“Was that McDavid?” Team Canada superstar throws a rare crushing hit vs Czechia
“Was that McDavid?” Team Canada superstar throws a rare crushing hit vs Czechia
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 12|105 ANSWERS Jon Cooper’s Olympic confession about Jordan Binnington raises eyebrows Did Jon Cooper’s “358 days ago” comment prove he always planned Jordan Binnington as Team Canada’s Olympic starter? | ||
| Yes | 88 | 83.8 % |
| No | 17 | 16.2 % |
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