Binnington signs two-year contract with Blues | St. Louis Blues

Binnington, whose fast-paced goal for the Blues saved their season and led them to the franchise's first Stanley Cup, signed a two-year contract with the Blues with an average annual value of $ 4.4 million. of dollars. Upon expiration of the contract, Binnington will become an unrestricted free agent.

Last season, Binnington's contract yielded only $ 650,000 while he was in the NHL, $ 100,000 while in the AHL, where he was half the season.

"I am pleased to conclude this agreement with the St. Louis Blues," Binnington told stlouisblues.com. "In the city of St. Louis, thank you for having welcomed and trusted me. I am excited and motivated to continue doing my job and continue to bring success to the St. Louis Blues organization. "

"We are delighted Jordan has signed for two years," said Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. "His game was exceptional and we can not wait to see him continue to be a major contributor to our team."

As a restricted free agent, there was no doubt that Binnington would be back with the Blues. The main question was what his contract would look like, which was a little mysterious. Binnington, who was to have an arbitration hearing next Saturday, had only 33 regular season NHL games, but what 33 games really. He led the NHL with a goals-against average of 1.89 and was fourth in stop percentage at 0.927. He had five shutouts and a record of 24-5-1. He was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as a rookie of the year and was selected as a goalkeeper in the rookie team.

And it was only the regular season. In the playoffs, he lost 16-10 – the first rookie goalie to win 16 playoff games – with a 2.46 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and a shutout. . He was Ryan O'Reilly's finalist for the Conn Smythe Trophy as a playoff MVP.

Although the number is high, there was simply not much. By signing a two-year contract, Binnington is well paid (he will earn $ 50,000 more than Jake Allen, the goalie he took the starting position) and can really win if his next two seasons are up to of his.

Sergei Bobrovsky, who averaged 2.58 GAA and a .913 elimination percentage last season, signed for $ 10 million a year as a free agent with Florida and Robin Lehner, third in the GAA at 2 , 13 and second as a player saved at 0.930 a $ 5 million contract with Chicago one year. The two goaltenders have a much longer career in the NHL than Binnington, who made his NHL debut on January 7.

The signing leaves the Blues to four unsigned restricted free agents: striker Oskar Sundqvist, defender Joel Edmundson and goalkeeper Ville Husso, all of whom have refereeing hearings, and striker Ivan Barbashev who did not qualify for arbitration. By capfriendly.com, there is still about $ 8 million in the Blues.