Jordan Binnington remains the X factor for the St. Louis Blues
He keeps them in most games, saving points when they matter most.
Once upon a time, St. Louis Blues G.M. Doug Armstrong received an offer or two for Jordan Binnington’s services. Last year or the year before, I’d bet a wage on the likely phone call, even if it was a quick one. Armstrong is as hungry and detached with player trades as any executive in the game, but he wasn’t pressing enter on that potential move. During a time of transition for a team, you need a player that the general hopes of the team and a moderate amount of games will hinge on his performance. He plays well, and there will be at least a point coming back to your team. If he’s off, there’s a good chance your team is losing.
With no offense to Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou, that man is Binnington. In a game against Philadelphia on Saturday that the Blues had no business being alive in going into the third period, Binnington held strong in net and produced an overtime opportunity that led to a point earned. In an eye opening save that won’t be forgotten during the end of year highlights, the Blues goaltender slid to his left to glove down a seemingly easy goal. He gave the Blues a chance for two points, but made sure they didn’t go home empty handed. That’s what M.V.P. do.
Last week, Binnington passed former Blues goaltender (and his agent), Mike Liut, for all time wins by a Blues goaltender with his 152nd victory. An impressive achievement for a guy who burst onto the scene nearly just six years ago, going from the guy that Armstrong rented out to Boston to someone St. Louis rode to its first Stanley Cup. With a long-term contract keeping him between the pipes for St. Louis, Binnington has a clear shot at 200 wins and beyond for the Blues.
It’s not the sexiest thing for a hockey team’s most valuable player to be a goaltender, especially during a time when the NHL struggles to make the sport relevant to casual fans or non fans. It would be an easier sell for a Brett Hull/Vladimir Tarasenko or Al MacInnis/Alex Pietrangelo type to power this current team, but it’s a Binner train for the foreseeable future. Joel Hofer is a nice backup and all, but there’s little clue for how he’d fare with a #1 workload.
Binnington is scheduled to make $6 million this season, and each of the next two seasons before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the 2027-28 season. The no-trade clause that was full until 2023 becomes 14 teams next year and ten the year afterwards. Then again, even at the age of 31 this winter, I don’t see him moving before the end of the current deal.
How are the numbers looking? Binnington carries a 2.87 goals against average and .899 save % into his next start, and he notched his first shutout last week. Those aren’t numbers to write home about, but for a team who has ousted a pair of head coaches in the last year, the performance is particularly solid. Take away a disastrous “take one for the team” beating at the hands of Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals a few weeks ago, and Binnington’s stats are more impressive.
Here’s the big deal: Binnington’s quality start percentage is 61%, the highest mark it has reached since his momentous landing back in 2019. It continues a solid streak from last year, and it sits much better than his 45% mark in 2022-23. If there was an off year in his tenure here, that was his low point. During a time when the team’s playoff hopes went from a sure thing to a possibility, he has proved to be a stronger force.
That means something. A player not backing down from the challenge of a retool session that could last seasons. Binnington could have kept tilting down in performance, and Armstrong could have fielded a call for a trade that would net the Blues a small return. These days, there’s next to little chance that the G.M. soon-to-be President of Hockey Operations will take a call on Binnington that lasts longer than, “thanks for calling, but no thanks.”
More than anyone on the Blues, Binnington is a foundational piece that couldn’t leave town unless his feelings abruptly changed (with a family started, I don’t see that happening) or an offer that can’t be refused at all costs drops into Armstrong’s lap. Both of those are long shots, so get used to a lack of nerves in the end, even as Binnington stretches into his 30s. Unlike most players, he doesn’t seem to be backing down yet to Father Time.
The Blues, who can find goals hard to come by, heavily depend on someone who can return the favor to the other team. A team that always has a chance thanks to its goaltending is one that is still alive in the playoff race. Now, if anyone else on the roster wants to wake up and elevate their game, that would be lovely.
Thanks for reading, and always buy more bourbon in response to a higher consumption of Blues hockey.