Then Blues just take him to arbitration. Matt Murray is a perfect comparable, and Binnington gets awarded around the same. Unless Binnington can come up with a RFA who got a contract for 5m with less than 60 NHL games played total, he isn't getting that number in arbitration. RFA's don't get paid based on how much someone they are playing better than makes. They get paid based on how much players who had similar numbers at the time of signing their contract got.

Binnington isn't going to get an offer sheet, so Blues hold all the power here. What's more, it's in Binnington's best interest to sign a short term deal if he wants to bet on himself. 2 more years of similar play, he is a UFA getting 8yx7m.
- Antilles

In most circumstances I agree with you.

I don’t think that the Blues are going to play hardball with the goalie that just won them their first Cup. The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh was much different than the goaltending situation in St Louis.

Pittsburgh had an established number one who had won a Stanley Cup.

I hope that you’re right. I just worry that not paying this kid now might come back to bite the franchise, Mike Liut-style...

In most circumstances I agree with you.

I don’t think that the Blues are going to play hardball with the goalie that just won them their first Cup. The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh was much different than the goaltending situation in St Louis.

Pittsburgh had an established number one who had won a Stanley Cup.

I hope that you’re right. I just worry that not paying this kid now might come back to bite the franchise, Mike Liut-style...
- eggsegan

NHL history is full of goalies who were amazing for a season, then after most suited for a backup role. If the Blues give Binnington 5m a year, and he turns out similarly, that's the end of the window with this core. That's 9m wrapped up in two backup goalies for 2 years, then 5m for one the two years after that... that's the primes of all of our core players. Look at where Matt Murray is now... average at best. Or look at Smythe winners Cam Ward & JS Giguere in the mid-2000s. Both guys who were amazing for months, went on a Cup run, then played at the above average backup level the rest of their careers.

Blues cannot gamble that much on a goalie with less than 60 games in the NHL. I look at it this way: if we had one more bad bounce go against us in game 7 against Dallas, what contract would we be giving Binnington? Add a couple hundred thousand AAV for the extra two rounds we saw him perform in, and that's right where we should be now. Can't let the sentimentality of him winning us a Cup cloud judgement into assuming he will play just as well going forward, when history suggests it's more likely than not he regresses, just a question of how much.

If we sign a 2 year deal, and he regresses a lot, Blues can go goalie shopping in 2 years with cap space and a couple years left in their window. And if he plays just as well, in 2 years we shift Allen's cap space to him, and he gets to be one of the top paid goalies in the league.

NHL history is full of goalies who were amazing for a season, then after most suited for a backup role. If the Blues give Binnington 5m a year, and he turns out similarly, that's the end of the window with this core. That's 9m wrapped up in two backup goalies for 2 years, then 5m for one the two years after that... that's the primes of all of our core players. Look at where Matt Murray is now... average at best. Or look at Smythe winners Cam Ward & JS Giguere in the mid-2000s. Both guys who were amazing for months, went on a Cup run, then played at the above average backup level the rest of their careers.

...
- Antilles

Murray IS made of glass, however.

Nice article about Bouw...

https://bleedinblue.com/2...ble-year-jay-bouwmeester/

Jeremy Rutherford suggesting that Maroon is likely not returning the St. Louis. Ignoring the sentimental part of it, Maroon can probably get 3m for 3y somewhere, and I'm glad it's not St. Louis. His production can be replaced by putting Blais or Sanford in the lineup for 1m, and we need to re-sign Petro & Schenn next summer.

I'll be happy if the Blues sign Maroon to a similar number he was at this year, and happy for Maroon if he goes out and makes a lot more elsewhere.

Jeremy Rutherford suggesting that Maroon is likely not returning the St. Louis. Ignoring the sentimental part of it, Maroon can probably get 3m for 3y somewhere, and I'm glad it's not St. Louis. His production can be replaced by putting Blais or Sanford in the lineup for 1m, and we need to re-sign Petro & Schenn next summer.

I'll be happy if the Blues sign Maroon to a similar number he was at this year, and happy for Maroon if he goes out and makes a lot more elsewhere.
- Antilles

Plus 1 to this. Thanks for the memories, Pat. The biggest things that will be difficult to replace are his puck control along the boards and his snarl (in the same player).

Great Perry and Benn on the same team in our division? Benn had been becoming the new Perry.

Great Perry and Benn on the same team in our division? Benn had been becoming the new Perry.
- Jason Millen

I was hoping that the Blues would offer that kind of deal to Perry. Replace Maroon with him...

Also, Duchene in division...

Great Perry and Benn on the same team in our division? Benn had been becoming the new Perry.
- Jason Millen

Colorado just got deeper at center too with the addition of Kadri...

Great Perry and Benn on the same team in our division? Benn had been becoming the new Perry.
- Jason Millen

Great. 2 pains in the ass on the same team. Dallas, Preds, Avs, and Hawks (goalie) just improved their team. Central looks to be stacked next season. Everyone said the Central was the weak division last year. Maybe that's cause 5 of te 7 teams consistently kicked each other's ass the entire year. 3 teams right around 100 pts is not a bad division. Maroon to Calgary for 5 x 3. If that's true Good for Him but Blues cannot match that offer.

Colorado just got deeper at center too with the addition of Kadri...
- eggsegan

I don't like Kaddri. Plays a little on the edge of dirty and now we face him 5-6 times a year. Great

I don't like Kaddri. Plays a little on the edge of dirty and now we face him 5-6 times a year. Great
- BluesDroogie

Right?! Perry, Kadri, (frank)ing Andrew Shaw... they’re all in the Central...

Right?! Perry, Kadri, (frank)ing Andrew Shaw... they’re all in the Central...


- eggsegan

What are the odds this season that Shaw tries to head butt in another goal? Ha ha. Now we need Reaves back just to shut those wieners up

How did Wayne Simmonds, 17 goals 13 assists get 5 million for 1 year. That's crazy

How did Wayne Simmonds, 17 goals 13 assists get 5 million for 1 year. That's crazy
- BluesDroogie

Team with cap room this year and only a 1 year deal mostly.

Team with cap room this year and only a 1 year deal mostly.
- .....

But who else was offering anything close. He showed in Nashville that it wasn't just a change of scenery he needed. He really hasn't been the same player since he took the puck to the face.

It's a great day to be Stanley Cup Champions.

It's a great day to be Stanley Cup Champions.
- Yeah Boyes

But who else was offering anything close. He showed in Nashville that it wasn't just a change of scenery he needed. He really hasn't been the same player since he took the puck to the face.
- bodiva88

Reminds me of Kevin Stevens in that way only the puck to the face had devastating consequences to Stevens off the ice as well. It was good to see him a couple if years back on a much better path.