Team Canada’s decision involving Jordan Binnington sparks some Jon Cooper criticism

Feb 16, 2026 (1:52 PM)

Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Jordan Binnington stays Team Canada’s net in elimination games, but the Logan Thompson pushback is getting louder.

Elliotte Friedman’s reporting has been consistent, Canada plans to roll with Binnington when it’s win or go home.

That is the whole bet, trust the big-game goalie, even if the week-to-week numbers look ugly.

The part fans can’t shake is the NHL season snapshot.

Binnington sits at 8-17-6 with a 3.65 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage.

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Meanwhile, Thompson’s case is simple and it’s statistical.

Logan Thompson is at 19-16-4 with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

That gap is why a lot of people only hear “reputation” when Canada says “going forward.”

You can feel the mood online, Canadians want the safe option, and they think Thompson is it.

Jon Cooper isn’t blind to that noise, but he’s clearly prioritizing calm under pressure.

Canada’s roster screams offense, so the goalie job becomes about one or two saves, not 50.

That’s where Binnington’s history keeps winning the room, even when the optics are rough.

If the next elimination game gets wobbly early, the criticism will land on the coach, not the goalie.

Because once you publicly pick your guy, you also pick the fallout.

Thompson doesn’t need to be perfect to become the popular answer, he just needs Canada to blink once.

And if Canada loses with Binnington, the second-guessing will be brutal, even if the decision was predictable.

Previously on HockeyLatest

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FEVRIER 16\|256 ANSWERS Team Canada’s decision involving Jordan Binnington sparks some Jon Cooper criticism Should Team Canada be starting Logan Thompson over Jordan Binnington instead in elimination games?
Yes	103	40.2 %
No	153	59.8 %
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