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For Will Cranley, this week wasn’t an official call to the NHL, but it did offer a taste.

Cranley practiced with the Blues as Jordan Binnington represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and Cranley skated three times at Centene Community Ice Center with the NHL club.

Cranley has spent most of this season in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, playing 16 games and owning a .911 save percentage and 2.28 goals-against average. He also played two games in the AHL with Springfield (while Colten Ellis was playing for Canada at the Spengler Cup), and had a .867 save percentage and 4.91 GAA.

“I feel like my overall patience on my feet has gotten a lot better,� Cranley said. “Overall reading the game has come a long way, how I’m tracking the puck is a lot better now and patient. Just going out there and playing, less thinking on the ice, more just playing and trusting what I can do. That’s come a long a way.�

The Blues drafted Cranley in the sixth round in 2020, and he is in his second professional season after finishing his OHL career. Last season, Cranley split it between Reading and Utah in the ECHL, totaling 33 games. This season, the Blues began their affiliation with Florida, leading to some stability for Cranley.

He has been behind Florida starter Cam Johnson (signed to an AHL contract), who leads the ECHL in both GAA (1.82) and wins (26). Overall, Cranley is fifth on the goaltending depth chart behind Binnington, Joel Hofer, Ellis and Vadim Zherenko.

Ellis and Zherenko have been the tandem in Springfield, which offered Cranley a chance to test himself with a pair of appearances.

“The pace is a big jump up,� Cranley said of the AHL. “Things happen a lot quicker, so it’s being prepare for everything. The play can get on top of you a lot quicker. Then you come to this level, and the play can get on top of you even quicker. It’s just being prepared and putting myself in a good spot to use my abilities.�

This season, Cranley has had the chance to work with Brian Elliott, who is in his first year as the Blues’ goaltending scout and development coach.

“It’s been unbelievable,� Cranley said. “He’s such a good guy to talk to, and he has a ton of experience. So just being able to bounce ideas off him, I talk to him weekly about how the games are going. He gives me a little feedback and it’s been really helpful.�

Elliott, 39, played in 543 NHL games for six teams, including 181 games with the Blues from 2011-16.

“After the weekend, he’ll just check in with me, see how it’s going,� Cranley said. “Obviously, he can watch the clips, and we just chat about the direction we want to take my game in.�

Notable

The Blues promoted forward Zack Bolduc from Springfield on Thursday. He played in four games in the AHL during the 4 Nations break, registering two assists, four shots on goal and two penalty minutes.

With Alexandre Texier not practicing this week because of sickness, Bolduc is expected to play for the Blues when they return to action on Saturday night against home against Winnipeg.

• Blues coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after practice that he had not decided on a starting goaltender against the Jets. With a back-to-back weekend contests, against the Jets on Saturday and Avalanche on Sunday, the team likely will split goaltenders, having Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington each start once.

Binnington was Canada's goaltender Thursday in its 3-2 overtime win over the United States in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.