St. Louis Blues Secure Goaltender Will Cranley
The St. Louis Blues have recently secured a contract extension for goaltender Will Cranley, promoting him to a one-year, two-way deal, as announced by Doug Armstrong, the team’s president of hockey operations and general manager.
Career Overview
At 24 years old, Cranley was originally selected by the Blues in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Over the last three seasons, he has primarily played in the ECHL and AHL, showing his talents as he prepared to enter restricted free agency on July 1st.
Performance Highlights
Cranley experienced his most notable performance during the 2025-26 season while playing for AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, achieving a .892 save percentage in 10 games. In the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, he demonstrated stronger abilities, achieving a .915 save percentage over 18 games, marking a significant improvement as he had previously struggled to surpass a .900 save percentage in both leagues.
His overall AHL statistics highlight a .890 save percentage across 13 appearances and an .896 in 74 games in the ECHL.
Previous Experience
Before joining the Blues, Cranley was with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he compiled a .881 save percentage through 117 games over five seasons.
Future Prospects
As the offseason progresses, the Blues are faced with the task of addressing seven restricted free agents, including notable players like Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel.
Despite his less-than-stellar statistics, Cranley stands out due to his impressive 6-foot-4 stature and his youth, characteristics that still align favorably for a goaltender’s future potential. While it remains uncertain if he will break into the NHL, maintaining robust organizational depth within the minor leagues is essential, particularly with homegrown players like Cranley.
Contract Details
His new contract stipulates a salary of $850,000 at the NHL level, with a minor league salary set at $95,000, as detailed by Puckpedia. Given his age and limited NHL experience, he will transition into a Group 6 restricted free agent by the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
