Jordan Binnington was under intense pressure and scrutiny this time last year.

Canada’s goaltender faced a lot of questions heading into the Quad-Country game as the NHL’s numbers were sketchy.

Binnington shrugged it off and stepped up again when it mattered most, especially in the final game against the United States, where he made a string of jaw-dropping overtime saves, scoring Connor McDavid in overtime to seal a memorable victory.

The Stanley Cup winner’s stat line is even more questionable in 2025-26, but if Canada does indeed tap the St. Louis Blues netminder on the shoulder, Binnington will be ready — and eager to once again prove his doubters wrong.

“I just stay in my own world,” the 34-year-old said of the outside noise. “Trust my process, believe in myself and leave everything on the ice.”

Head coach John Cooper closed the card on Wednesday by refusing to publicly name a starting netminder for the Milan-Cortina Olympique’s first game against the Czech Republic, about 24 hours before the NHL’s stars return to the sport’s biggest stage.

Binnington manned one net for most of the hour-long practice, while Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson split duties at the other net.

And while Coach Cooper didn’t announce Binnington as his No. 1, the words that followed strongly suggested the Richmond Hill, Ont., product would lead the Canadian men’s national team onto the ice Thursday afternoon at the Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.

“He gave a great performance on the biggest stage, in the biggest moment, at the biggest time,” Cooper said of Binnington’s performance in the 4 Nations. “I’ve seen it before. There’s only been a few players who understood that element. He did his job when we needed him the most. Is that guaranteed? You’ll never know.”

“But everything we saw in those playoffs and what he did after that was pretty remarkable.”

‘I have a lot of faith’ in Binnington

Boosting the postseason was Binnington’s stellar performance with the Blues in 2019, including the title-clinching Game 7 win on the road that helped them win the Cup.

“We have a lot of faith,” said Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong, who serves in the same role in St. Louis. “When players see that over and over again, it’s a foundation for them to know, ‘OK, I trust this guy when the time comes.’ I think that’s the situation with Vinner right now. We have two great partners for him. I know our goaltending is talked about a lot.

“We have the utmost confidence that we will find the right path.”

However, Binnington has both the 35th-best save percentage in the NHL (.864) and the Blues’ goals-against average (3.65), which ranks second-last in the overall standings among puck-stoppers who appeared in at least 25 games in 2025-26.

Meanwhile, Thompson ranks fifth on the Washington Capitals in save percentage (.912) and GAA (2.45). Kuemper ranks 18th in save percentage (.900) and 10th in GAA (2.59) with the Los Angeles Kings.

Kuemper also hoisted the Cup in 2022 as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, and Thompson has been one of the league’s best statistical goaltenders over the past two seasons.

“There’s a lot of talent in this group,” Binnington said. “Great people, good Canadians.”

Cooper made a few adjustments to some of his combinations before Wednesday’s game.

Connor McDavid’s top line between Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson remained intact, and Sidney Crosby remained with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.

Nathan MacKinnon had two new wingers in Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart, as well as Bo Horvat, who skated between Brad Marchand and Nick Suzuki. There were no changes to the four defensive pairs, led by Cale Makar and Devon Toews.

“I’m the last one to sit here and say, ‘I’ve got to do this, I’ve got to do that, I’ve got to be here, I’ve got to be there,'” Cooper said of practice. “You let the best players in the world play and then you adjust.”

NHL returns after long hiatus

The NHL is returning to the Olympics after a 12-year hiatus. Canada won gold in men’s best in 2002, 2010 and 2014, but the league skipped 2018 and withdrew four years later over concerns about COVID-19.

Crosby, who is looking for his third podium finish along with blueliner Drew Doty, is waiting for the puck to drop.

“We had some good practices and expectations,” Crosby said. “It’s just time to leave.”

After playing the Czech Republic, Canada will face Switzerland in the second game of the back-to-back on Friday. The hockey powerhouse team concludes its Group A match against France on Sunday.

Cooper said that no matter which goalkeeper starts in the tournament, there is a “very good chance” that one of the remaining two will play against the Swiss national team.

And if Binnington is the opening act, his history as a big-time player speaks for itself.

“He’s been there before and helped with that,” Reinhardt said. “When the game is toughest and toughest, when the biggest chances are at stake, he steps up and performs.”

“He has an aura about him,” Cooper added. “In the most positive way possible.”