When it comes to bargaining chips for any player seeking a pay increase, few hold more leverage than having led your team to its first Stanley Cup championship as a rookie netminder.
That's the exact card that St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington can play this offseason, and general manager Doug Armstrong knows it.
"He's going to earn a big pay raise this summer and we're looking forward to paying him," Armstrong said of Binnington on Sportsnet 590 on Thursday.
Binnington came out of nowhere and played a huge role in reviving the Blues' season after the team was in last place in January. The 25-year-old went 24-5-1 with a .927 save percentage in the regular season, and carried the momentum into the playoffs by setting an NHL record for wins by a rookie goalie (16) while posting a .914 save clip across 26 starts.
Remarkably, Binnington did all that while making the league minimum of $650,000.
The Blues are entering the offseason with a projected $18.7 million in available cap space, according to Cap Friendly.
