Binnington: "I still have a lot more to prove"

Not long after
signing a six-year, $36 million contract extension with the St. Louis Blues
, Jordan Binnington took a trip down memory lane.
He drove downtown past Hilton at the Ballpark, where he stayed for prospect camps and training camps while he was trying to make his mark after being drafted in 2011. He drove past Busch Stadium, where he would watch the St. Louis Cardinals play in the summertime with other Blues prospects and draft picks. And he drove down Clark Avenue past Enterprise Center, where he has made plenty of memories since first arriving on the scene in January 2019.

"It seems so far away, but they're all just great memories. Stuff like that stands out," Binnington said. "I think it's important to reflect. I'm very proud of myself and the people around me (and) I'm proud to be a St. Louis Blue. We already have so many memories made. I'm very happy here in St. Louis, the people are so genuine. There's a lot to reflect on."
Binnington's deal came together rather quickly, and it's a deal that both sides felt was fair.
Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong used Calgary's Jacob Markstrom and Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck as comparables when discussing how the Blues and Binnington arrived at the terms of the deal.

"You react to the market," Armstrong said. "Markstrom signed for six (years) times six (million), he's a good goalie. Hellebuyck, pre-COIVD, was a little higher than six (million)… This puts (Binnington) in that grouping. To get an unrestricted free agent signed, you have to play ball with what's comfortable for him also. But we are comfortable with it."
"Being on a competitive team was something that mattered to me," Binnington said. "I'm not looking to crush the bank, it's not all about money to me. At the end of the day, I think what you look back on and feel in your heart, it's the memories made, competing and being successful and going through tough times, getting out of them and being there for your teammates. We've got a good, respected group here and I'm excited."
Binnington's arrival has been well-documented and was nothing short of spectacular. He recorded a 3-0 shutout win in his first start in Philadelphia on Jan. 7, 2019 and he kept rolling after that, leading the Blues to their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history five months later. He was the first rookie goalie in NHL history to win all 16 playoff games for his club.

Now in his third season, Binnington has posted a 63-24-11 record with a 2.38 goals-against average, a .915 save-percentage and eight shutouts in 102 regular-season games.
Since his debut, he ranks second overall in the League in wins, eighth in goals-against average and fourth in shutouts.
"For me, my motivation changes," Binnington said. "I like to keep it interesting, set short-term goals that in the end, hopefully turn into bigger goals. For me, we already have built such a great history in St. Louis. I want to make this city proud, continue to make my family proud. I'm just pushing myself to be the best athlete and person I can be.
"It feels good, it's off our minds now," Binnington added about getting a long-term deal done. "I feel a couple of emotions. I'm grateful and I'm very proud. I still have a lot more to prove."