The rise of goalie Jordan Binnington was a top story in the St. Louis Blues' run to their first Stanley Cup this past season, so they needed to take care of their restricted free agent this off-season. They did just that on Saturday, giving Binnington a new two-year contract. The new deal will pay him an annual average of $4.4 million, as the team made the announcement Saturday afternoon. Binnington shared his excitement and thanked the team and its fans in a statement released on the team's website.
The 25-year-old climbed to be their top option, after starting the season fourth on their goalie depth chart, and earned the Game-7 win over the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. He took over for good in January, right when the Blues climbed from last place, all the way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The young star was working on his third consecutive one-year contract, and general manager Doug Armstrong was relieved to lock him in for good, even admitting well before the signing that Binnington was on pace for a "big pay raise."
The breakout star ended up playing 32 games in the regular season, posting a goals-against-average of 1.89, along with a .927 save percentage. He even had a personal 11-game winning streak, replacing Jake Allen as the team's starter. The problem now comes that Allen has two years left on his current contract, which he is owed $4.35 million, but he doesn't seem to be much competition for Binnington at the moment. Their new starter solidified his future with the team by winning a rookie-record 16 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with a 2.46 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
The 25-year-old climbed to be their top option, after starting the season fourth on their goalie depth chart, and earned the Game-7 win over the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. He took over for good in January, right when the Blues climbed from last place, all the way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The young star was working on his third consecutive one-year contract, and general manager Doug Armstrong was relieved to lock him in for good, even admitting well before the signing that Binnington was on pace for a "big pay raise."
The breakout star ended up playing 32 games in the regular season, posting a goals-against-average of 1.89, along with a .927 save percentage. He even had a personal 11-game winning streak, replacing Jake Allen as the team's starter. The problem now comes that Allen has two years left on his current contract, which he is owed $4.35 million, but he doesn't seem to be much competition for Binnington at the moment. Their new starter solidified his future with the team by winning a rookie-record 16 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with a 2.46 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
