Jordan Binnington

Two years after winning the Stanley Cup, Binnington has struggled to maintain the high level of play that helped backstop the Blues to their first championship in 2019. The 28-year-old posted a rather unflattering 2.65 GAA and .910 save percentage behind an 18-14-8 record in 42 starts last season. Blues management appears unconcerned about Binnington's numbers, as they inked their workhorse netminder to a six-year, $36 million extension in March of 2021. With so many key players from the championship roster now gone, it's uncertain whether Binnington will be able to renkindle the magic of his breakout season, but he should be a solid fantasy option once again in 2021-22 based on volume alone.

Binnington was bound to take a step back after a historic, fairy-tale season as a rookie in 2018-19. He finished with 30 wins, third most in the league, but saw both his save percentage and GAA move closer to the league average last year. The real Binnington is probably somewhere in between, and even with free agency looming, the Blues were confident enough to trade Jake Allen to the Canadiens in September. That means Binnington is going to see a lot of playing time in 2020-21, so he'll have a great opportunity to finish in the top five in wins for a second consecutive campaign. Binnington has a short track record, but it's been impressive so far. He should be considered a top-10 option at his position heading into this year's drafts.

Binnington was on waivers at the beginning of last season and the Blues refused to give him his first NHL start until they hit rock bottom. But the rest is history. The 26-year-old's name will forever be etched into Lord Stanley, and the Blues rewarded him with a two-year, $8.8 million contract. This is essentially a prove-it deal, because while his accomplishments were priceless, they were also unprecedented, as no rookie goalie has ever won 16 games in the postseason before. Binnington could be due for some regression from the .927 save percentage and 1.89 GAA he posted in the regular season, especially considering it already slipped to a .914 and 2.46, respectively, in the playoffs. Nevertheless, he clearly has the raw talent to play at the top level, so it's just a matter of whether this can translate over 60 starts in a season. Fantasy owners should be wary of reaching too early here.

Binnington spent the 2017-18 season on loan to AHL Providence, where he posted a dominant .926 save percentage and 17-9-0 record. The 25-year-old will look to return to the Blues' affiliate, AHL San Antonio, this season, but he'll face stiff competition from Evan Fitzpatrick, who is five years younger and coming off a stellar playoff run in Canadian juniors. If Binnington wins the backup job behind Ville Husso in San Antonio, he'll have a chance to prove he deserves a look to be Jake Allen's successor.

Binnington has spent the past four seasons playing for AHL Chicago, and while the results haven't been staggering, he’s done well enough to prove he could be Jake Allen’s backup once Carter Hutton’s contract expires next summer. Last season, he recorded 16-7-3 record with a .911 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA. Binnington is unlikely to play with the Blues this year aside from a game here and there if injuries strike, but keep his name in mind for future seasons.

Binnington, 21, plied his trade with Kalamazoo of the ECHL last season, producing a 2.35 GAA and .922 save percentage in 40 games. The former third-round pick is expected to take his talents to AHL Chicago this season, where he’ll likely serve as the squad’s starter following Jake Allen’s appointment to the top backup spot on the NHL squad. In addition to Allen, the Blues have another promising young netminder in 21-year-old Niklas Lundstrom, but Binnington seems to be further along in his development and likely checks in at No. 3 on Blues’ organizational goalie depth chart.

The 6-2 Binnington turns 18 this year and is coming off a year where played a ton of minutes for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. On the surface, a 3.05 GAA and .899 save percentage doesn't look too good, but it won him 27 games.