The 4 Nations Face-off is set to begin on Wednesday night. This tournament, stretching the better part of two weeks, will showcase the NHL’s best talent, and break them up to represent their home country.
The St. Louis Blues are sending two of their best to Montreal, to be a part of Team Canada. Defenseman Colton Parayko and goaltender Jordan Binnington are going to be an integral part of the Team Canada squad. Let’s take a look at where, when, and who they will be playing with and throw some projections in there as well.
Colton Parayko
Parayko is having a phenomenal season with the Blues. He already hit a career-high in goals with 12 and is rapidly approaching a career-high in points, currently at 29, best is 35.
This week coming up is a great opportunity for him to show the world just how special he is on the Blues blue line. Parayko is projected to man the third defensive pairing, alongside Vegas Golden Knight defenseman, Shea Theodore.
They will be an exciting pair to watch, but it is hard to imagine how much playing time they will get with the likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, John Morrisey, and Drew Doughty. Parayko is a solid player but pales in comparison to those elite players.
Jordan Binnington
If there is one player who needs to use this Tournament as a starting-over point, it is goalie Jordan Binnington. This season has been tough for the 31-year-old, as he has succeeded and failed consistently all season. When he is hot, he is hot, but when he is not, it’s a disaster.
At 15-19-4, with a save percentage of .896 and a goals-against average of 2.89, it has not been a normal year for Binnington. It is a good thing that he is not taking the break, and he can use this tournament to rebuild his confidence.
If he can put on a strong showing in this tournament, he can come back to the Blues with a hot hand. Alternatively, if he falters and Vegas Goaltender Adin Hill takes the majority of starts away from Binnington, it could spell disaster on the Blues chances for a playoff birth.
On the eve of the big tournament, it has been announced that Binnington will start the first game for Team Canada against Team Sweden.