Bleedin' Blue » Jake Allen http://bleedinblue.com A St. Louis Blues Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Wed, 22 May 2013 19:19:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 St. Louis Blues Prospect Jordan Binnington Named OHL Goalie of the Year http://bleedinblue.com/2013/05/21/st-louis-blues-prospect-jordan-binnington-named-ohl-goalie-of-the-year/ http://bleedinblue.com/2013/05/21/st-louis-blues-prospect-jordan-binnington-named-ohl-goalie-of-the-year/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:53 +0000 Alex Hodschayan http://bleedinblue.com/?p=4266 Jordan Binnington was drafted in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, but he may prove to be worth much more than a third round pick. With Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott, and Jake Allen all competing for time with the St. Louis Blues, Binnington may have a great [...]

St. Louis Blues Prospect Jordan Binnington Named OHL Goalie of the Year - Bleedin' Blue - Bleedin' Blue - A St. Louis Blues Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

]]> Jordan Binnington was drafted in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, but he may prove to be worth much more than a third round pick.

With Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott, and Jake Allen all competing for time with the St. Louis Blues, Binnington may have a great shot at starting in net for the Chicago Wolves next season.

Currently, Jordan Binnington has been the go-to goalie for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League and for good reason.  Having played the last four season for the Owen Sound Attack, Binnington was best known as the goaltender that helped the Attack capture their first OHL Championship in 2011 and was later named top goaltender at the 2011 Memorial Cup.

In the 2012-13 season, Binnington set an Attack single season record by leading the team to 32 wins and seven shutout victories.  Binnington also maintained a miniscule goals-against-average at just 2.17 to lead the league and had the third best save-percentage at 0.932.  The seven shutouts he managed also tied for the league lead.  All his hard work paid off earning the Dave Pinkney Trophy for allowing a league leading 165 goals against; this was the first time in the Attack’s history that they had won this trophy.

To round off his incredible season, Binnington was awarded the OHL’s goaltender of the year award at the end of April beating out well-known prospects John Gibson of the Kitchener Rangers and Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls.  Binnington had this to say about winning the award and his time with the Attack:

Receiving this award is something I am very proud of and will cherish forever.  It was a very exciting year for me on a number of levels and as a team we were such a strong hard-working group. My teammates made my job easier and I need to thank them first and foremost.  The Attack organization is first class and the city of Owen Sound has been extremely supportive throughout my time here. I couldn’t have asked for a better city to play in or a better group of fans to play in front of.

Although Binnington seems thrilled to have won the award, he is going to have to wait until June 4th to receive the actual honors when the OHL Awards Ceremony will be held at the Hockey Hall of Fame.  While he waits though, there are more conversations to be had as he is also the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Year honors.

No matter what, the future of goaltending in St. Louis is looking bright not even mentioning that the Blues have locked up Niklas Lundstrom, a Swedish prospect that they picked up in the fifth round of the same 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Stay tuned for more new about your St. Louis Blues and the upcoming prospects.

LET’S GO BLUES!

-Alex Hodschayan

Binnington will be formally presented with the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year Award on June 4 at the OHL Awards Ceremony held at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He is also the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Year.

]]> http://bleedinblue.com/2013/05/21/st-louis-blues-prospect-jordan-binnington-named-ohl-goalie-of-the-year/feed/ 0 St. Louis Blues Offseason Moves – Who Will Go and Who Will Stay? http://bleedinblue.com/2013/05/16/st-louis-blues-offseason-moves-who-will-go-and-who-will-stay/ http://bleedinblue.com/2013/05/16/st-louis-blues-offseason-moves-who-will-go-and-who-will-stay/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 12:58:49 +0000 Alex Hodschayan http://bleedinblue.com/?p=4243 The St. Louis Blues are set to have a somewhat busy offseason, but it won’t be in search of new players. Blues GM Doug Armstrong has indicated that his focus is going to be on keeping the current team together. To do that, Armstrong is going to have to get Tom Stillman to open up [...]

St. Louis Blues Offseason Moves – Who Will Go and Who Will Stay? - Bleedin' Blue - Bleedin' Blue - A St. Louis Blues Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

]]> The St. Louis Blues are set to have a somewhat busy offseason, but it won’t be in search of new players. Blues GM Doug Armstrong has indicated that his focus is going to be on keeping the current team together. To do that, Armstrong is going to have to get Tom Stillman to open up his checkbook.

So what exactly does Armstrong have to do in the next month or so….

Player Cap Number 2012-13 Salary FA Type What Should the Blues Do?
Alex Pietrangelo $3,167,000 $787,000 RFA Pietrangelo is a must sign player.  Armstrong will most likely lock him up beofre free agency begins.
Chris Stewart $3,000,000 $3,000,000 RFA Chris Stewart earned another contract with the Blues, but at a price.  Armstrong will look to lock him up on a budget.
Jake Allen $2,450,000 $787,000 RFA Jake Allen isn’t going anywhere, but I would expect him to be on a two-way contract again.
Patrik Berglund $2,250,000 $2,400,000 RFA Berglund was spotty all season and in the playoffs.  I think Armstrong gives him a one year prove it deal, but could be used as trade bait.
Kevin Shattenkirk $1,300,000 $875,000 RFA Shattenkirk is in the same boat as Pietrangelo, he is a must sign.  Armstrong will lock him up quickly.
Kris Russell $1,300,000 $1,300,000 RFA Kris Russell has run out of room with the Blues, but Armstrong is not willing to sacrifice depth.  Russell will most likely be back on a one year deal.
Ian Cole $1,300,000 $875,000 RFA Ian Cole will be back with the Blues, but he won’t get much of a raise.  Consider him the secenth man out back.
Tyler Shattock $900,000 $640,000 RFA Shattock should be back in the AHL next season, but isn’t essential to anyone.  Armstrong won’t let him go for nothing though.
Cade Fairchild $875,000 $637,000 RFA Fairchild should get another two-way contract.  With time to develop he could make the NHL team.
Philip McRae $854,000 $787,000 RFA McRae was seen as close to the NHL a few seasons ago, but there is no room on the roster for him now.  He could be moved, but will probably be back in the AHL.
Evgeny Grachev $817,000 $787,000 RFA Grachev has been close to the NHL and played a decent amount of games with the Blues last season.  I don’t think they will give up on him yet.
Paul Karpowich $800,000 $680,000 RFA With Binnington coming up, I would expect the Blues to move or let Karpowich walk, unless Halak or Elliott is moved
Brett Sonne $660,000 $660,000 RFA Sonne is a solid AHL guy, look for him to be with the Chicago Wolves next season as he will be a cheap signing for Armstrong.
Anthony Nigro $592,000 $600,000 RFA Nigro is a lot like Sonne, I see him getting another deal with the Blues, but it is probably his last.
Jay Barriball $578,000 $578,000 RFA Barriball might get moved or they could let him walk.  He isn’t of much value to the team.
Taylor Chorney $575,000 $575,000 RFA Chorney is considered a guy that could be called up if needed.  I think Armstrong re-signs him to a two-way deal.
Stefan Della Rovere $570,000 $550,000 RFA Della Rovere will probably be kept around as well.  He has some upside, but won’t be in the NHL soon.
Andy McDonald $4,700,000 $4,200,000 UFA McDonald’s time as a Blue has almost surely come to an end.  With his play this season and in the playoffs, it looks like age has taken its tole on Andy Mac.
Jamie Langenbrunner $1,500,000 $1,250,000 UFA Langenbrunner will probably need to hang up the skates.  He seems happy with St. Louis and could be made part of the coaching staff.  If he wants to play, look for him to be leaving town.
Scott Nichol $700,000 $650,000 UFA Nichol was injured at the end of the season and it didn’t look like he was missed.  Looks like Nichol will be leaving town at the end of the year.
Jeff Woywitka $700,000 $700,000 UFA Woywitka is probably on his way out of St. Louis.  He never earned a spot on the roster and looks to be extra weight at this point.
Andrew Murray $600,000 $600,000 UFA Andrew Murray is on his way out of town as well.  He never proved that he could play in the NHL and was extra weight for the AHL team.
Adam Cracknell $550,000 $550,000 UFA Cracknell has earned the right to stay with the Blues, but the question will be if Armstrong thinks he is needed.  I think we will see him back on a two-way deal and will be called up when needed.
Mike McKenna $525,000 $525,000 UFA McKenna played fairly well without Allen in Peoria, but he seems like an extra guy if Halak and Elliott are here to stay.  I think he will be looking for a new home.

So who do you think the Blues should resign? Do you think we nailed it above or do you think Armstrong will be making other moves? Let us know if the comments below or on Facebook.

LET’S GO BLUES!

-Alex Hodschayan

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