3 Reasons St. Louis Blues Won’t Repeat As Stanley Cup Champions
By Todd Panula
2. Binnington
Before you start hitting the red X on the screen or sending me hate comments, this is not a comment on Jordan Binnington‘s ability to win. I do not believe he is a flash-in-the-pan/one-year wonder.
The reason he could be reason the Blues do not win is the same reason any goaltender might be the reason their team does not win. There was no way for goaltenders to stay sharp during this shutdown.
Goaltending is a very specific position that has specific needs for training. You have to have ice, firstly.
Playing street hockey can help you keep your reflexes tighter, but there’s simply no way to simulate goaltending edge-work without actually being out there on the ice. The way they practice sliding and hugging the posts and working on angles almost necessitates being on the ice, or at the very least a synthetic surface.
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Additionally, even if you had access to a rink somehow, you can’t practice the way a skater would. You need another person to help you.
Goaltenders can’t take shots on themselves. Your average person can’t shoot like an NHL player either, so asking family might not really be much of an option either.
You can throw tennis balls at a wall all you want. There is nothing that really simulates taking shots like actually taking shots.
One last thing that gives me pause is something Binnington said. I have no doubt he will come to practice ready and willing.
However, goaltenders have even less margin for error in the playoffs than skaters do. So, if he’s not mentally engaged 100%, it might have an affect.
When the stay-at-home orders were about a month old, Binnington was on 101 ESPN and basically said he is treating this like it is the offseason. He said he relaxed on workout regimes and the like.
That is understandable and a very human reaction when you have no way of knowing if/when you’ll play again. That said, it has to be taken into account.
When one goal can mean the difference with winning or losing, you need your goaltender at his best. If Binnington went into offseason mode, the Blues won’t have the luxury of an early season for him to work out any kinks.
Only Binnington will know if he’s a peak level or not.