Preseason Binnington

[Kilokaai]

To start this off, yes it is preseason. However, I will say in the games Jordan has played in preseason it feels like we might be in for a monster year for him heading into the Olympics.

I have been critical of Jordan at times, but he has been absolutely LOCKED in for the preaseason. So little frantic movement, including the Stanley Cup run I would argue this is the most sound positionally he has ever looked. Oozing confidence at the moment.

[STL fan in MN]

To put it simply, he’s looked completely locked in. But yes, it’s just preseason. That said, it’s a good sign. Suggests he’s likely to be dialed in when the real season starts too.

That said, I suspect Hofer to get around 40% of the starts (a little more than normal) so they can try to keep Bonner fresh as they know he’s very likely to be heading to Italy for the Olympics and likely to be counted on big there. So we’re going to need both goalies to perform well this season.

[John Cocktoastin]

I was at a private Q&A event with Binnington a couple weeks ago and he is dialed in and excited about this batch of teammates and the coming year. He worked very hard to get where he's at (and mentioned his father as being a driving force growing up) and was very candid about the challenges he had getting to where he's at. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to go off in the sunset quickly/lightly. And he seems sharper than ever.

Having never met him before, all I can say is that he must have done a million of these events before, but he was nothing short of accommodating with everyone and really genuine. No high brow or fakeness - just a god guy, candid, funny. Especially with a child, who he personally talked to for a while. Like I said, never met him before, but an awesome dude.

[seattleblue]

I was at a private Q&A event with Binnington a couple weeks ago and he is dialed in and excited about this batch of teammates and the coming year. He worked very hard to get where he's at (and mentioned his father as being a driving force growing up) and was very candid about the challenges he had getting to where he's at. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to go off in the sunset quickly/lightly. And he seems sharper than ever.

Having never met him before, all I can say is that he must have done a million of these events before, but he was nothing short of accommodating with everyone and really genuine. No high brow or fakeness - just a god guy, candid, funny. Especially with a child, who he personally talked to for a while. Like I said, never met him before, but an awesome dude.

great personal insight. he has linked up that to be the greatest reigning goalie he has to be so present/in the moment, and those personal interactions sound like he is

[John Cocktoastin]

I was at a private Q&A event with Binnington a couple weeks ago and he is dialed in and excited about this batch of teammates and the coming year. He worked very hard to get where he's at (and mentioned his father as being a driving force growing up) and was very candid about the challenges he had getting to where he's at. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to go off in the sunset quickly/lightly. And he seems sharper than ever.

Having never met him before, all I can say is that he must have done a million of these events before, but he was nothing short of accommodating with everyone and really genuine. No high brow or fakeness - just a god guy, candid, funny. Especially with a child, who he personally talked to for a while. Like I said, never met him before, but an awesome dude.

great personal insight. he has linked up that to be the greatest reigning goalie he has to be so present/in the moment, and those personal interactions sound like he is

Yeah. I think his path to the NHL coupled with his work/skills/mindset makes him special. Just glad we got him.

[netboy65]

I’ve said before, there’s a big difference between bachelor Binnington and married Binnington.

Same thing happened with Oshie back in the day

[dhsux]

I was at a private Q&A event with Binnington a couple weeks ago and he is dialed in and excited about this batch of teammates and the coming year. He worked very hard to get where he's at (and mentioned his father as being a driving force growing up) and was very candid about the challenges he had getting to where he's at. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to go off in the sunset quickly/lightly. And he seems sharper than ever.

Having never met him before, all I can say is that he must have done a million of these events before, but he was nothing short of accommodating with everyone and really genuine. No high brow or fakeness - just a god guy, candid, funny. Especially with a child, who he personally talked to for a while. Like I said, never met him before, but an awesome dude.

He loves his mates. It drives him.

[seattleblue]

When I hear him say he has watched over 100 times the video of his friends on the couch in helmets watching him play in 4 Nations, I trust what makes him need to be this good a player. That is a very special experience. He lives to relish the highest of highs.

[bud white]

For as many top draft picks that end up with long and very successful careers in the NHL, there is an equal amount of players who were overlooked or simply didn't pass "the eye test" and go on to win Championships. It seems to happen more with goaltenders, but maybe that story gets amplified due to the nature of the position and the weight that it carriers.

A few of the undrafted / overlooked NHL goalies who rose to the top of the league include - Ed Belfour, Curtis Joseph, Sergei Bobrovsky, Dwayne Roloson, Tim Thomas.

While Binnington was indeed drafted, his career trajectory prior to 2018/2019 was in limbo to put it mildly. Same with Tim Thomas. He labored in the minors for a long time before he got his shot.

Being overlooked serves as motivation. Very unique and driven individuals.

[Blues Dave]

For as many top draft picks that end up with long and very successful careers in the NHL, there is an equal amount of players who were overlooked or simply didn't pass "the eye test" and go on to win Championships. It seems to happen more with goaltenders, but maybe that story gets amplified due to the nature of the position and the weight that it carriers.

A few of the undrafted / overlooked NHL goalies who rose to the top of the league include - Ed Belfour, Curtis Joseph, Sergei Bobrovsky, Dwayne Roloson, Tim Thomas.

While Binnington was indeed drafted, his career trajectory prior to 2018/2019 was in limbo to put it mildly. Same with Tim Thomas. He labored in the minors for a long time before he got his shot.

Being overlooked serves as motivation. Very unique and driven individuals.

Great post bud white. Not knowing the details of Binnys upbringing, I can only talk about what I see of the player and the man. I believe he wanted to play hockey as many others did. And somewhere in there he was compelled or decided that he wanted to be good and stand out as a winner. And when he got the oportunity, and a chance to play on a very decent team, he put his whole self in it. And this is all just my opinion, but at this point, when he's on his game....that's just Binny being Binny.

[Army's Mom]

For as many top draft picks that end up with long and very successful careers in the NHL, there is an equal amount of players who were overlooked or simply didn't pass "the eye test" and go on to win Championships. It seems to happen more with goaltenders, but maybe that story gets amplified due to the nature of the position and the weight that it carriers.

A few of the undrafted / overlooked NHL goalies who rose to the top of the league include - Ed Belfour, Curtis Joseph, Sergei Bobrovsky, Dwayne Roloson, Tim Thomas.

While Binnington was indeed drafted, his career trajectory prior to 2018/2019 was in limbo to put it mildly. Same with Tim Thomas. He labored in the minors for a long time before he got his shot.

Being overlooked serves as motivation. Very unique and driven individuals.

Great post bud white. Not knowing the details of Binnys upbringing, I can only talk about what I see of the player and the man. I believe he wanted to play hockey as many others did. And somewhere in there he was compelled or decided that he wanted to be good and stand out as a winner. And when he got the oportunity, and a chance to play on a very decent team, he put his whole self in it. And this is all just my opinion, but at this point, when he's on his game....that's just Binny being Binny.

More than any other position, goalie has been the wild card with the draft. There are as many successful 1st round picks as there are complete first round busts. There are as many late round or undrafted Hall if Famers as there are first rounders. Its a total crapshoot.

I think its gotten better with the modern emphasis on skill development and coaching, especially for goalies at lower levela, but it still feels like the next great starter could come fron anywhere (and not just first round picks).

[Bluesfan1978]

For as many top draft picks that end up with long and very successful careers in the NHL, there is an equal amount of players who were overlooked or simply didn't pass "the eye test" and go on to win Championships. It seems to happen more with goaltenders, but maybe that story gets amplified due to the nature of the position and the weight that it carriers.

A few of the undrafted / overlooked NHL goalies who rose to the top of the league include - Ed Belfour, Curtis Joseph, Sergei Bobrovsky, Dwayne Roloson, Tim Thomas.

While Binnington was indeed drafted, his career trajectory prior to 2018/2019 was in limbo to put it mildly. Same with Tim Thomas. He labored in the minors for a long time before he got his shot.

Being overlooked serves as motivation. Very unique and driven individuals.

I think he was 5th on the depth chart that year. He had been loaned to the Bruins farm team.

[DawgDad]

Simple Google search to find a lot of stuff on Binner's background. I recollect reading reports from NHL player attendees at a summer camp in 2018 who said his success was no surprise, he was the best player in camp. Clearly, he worked very hard through the years to hone his craft. When his moment arrived he was prepared, his success was no accident on his part.

The universe of team sports is replete with Wally Pipp replacement and 'next man up' success stories. Some seem more improbable than others. Binner was largely out of broad public view, thankfully Army knew who and where he was.

[LewisL]

Probably won't happen, but strictly as a fan, I hope Binnington remains a Blue until he retires, and with a statue of him. He's arguably the face of the franchise, and it'd be awesome, although I realize unlikely.

[somni]

Binnington is one of the leaders of this era of the Blues. He's a legend.
I'm about to put him up there with my favorite Blues player, Brian Sutter.

He has the competitiveness and drive that makes him one of the Blues' best. He deserves a statue.