Coming into this season, the St. Louis Blues have been anticipated to rely closely on Jordan Binnington. They signed a 36-year-old Thomas Greiss to be their backup. He was coming off of a brutal season with the Detroit Crimson Wings. On the time of the transfer, it was an uninspiring addition to interchange lower than half of what Ville Husso did final season.
The thought going into the season was for Binnington to be the unquestioned number-one starter. Issues haven’t transpired that approach, resulting in an attention-grabbing scenario for this crew to be in with a report of 12-14-0. The Blues dedicated to Binnington as their goalie of the longer term by extending him in March of 2021 and buying and selling Husso. However there may be zero doubt that issues have modified via 26 video games this season. I feel it’s time to see extra of Greiss within the internet for this crew, however I’m not assured that it’ll occur.
High quality Performances within the Final 4 GamesWhile it’s a small pattern dimension, Greiss has been strong in his final 4 video games. He began 3 times in that four-game stretch as Binnington was pulled in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Within the two video games the place Binnington was pulled, Greiss has saved 30 of 31 pictures and saved them in every sport. These are spectacular numbers with how dangerous the Blues’ defensive unit has been. In eight appearances this season, he’s confronted 40 or extra pictures in 4 of them. Regardless of the poor protection in entrance of him, he has been capable of climate a storm that Binnington hasn’t.
Thomas Greiss, St. Louis Blues (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)In his final 4 appearances, Greiss has a 3-0-0 report in his begins with a save share (SV%) of .912. Three of these video games have been in opposition to the Penguins, Florida Panthers, and New York Islanders, groups which can be all high 15 in targets scored. He allowed 13 targets in these video games, however he confronted an irregular variety of pictures, 148 whole (37 per sport). If Greiss can maintain the Blues in video games whereas being ambushed by the opposing crew, there’s no cause he shouldn’t proceed to get alternatives as Binnington struggles. I’ll be the primary to confess that I criticized the signing of Greiss within the offseason and I’ve been fallacious so far.
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Newest Information & HighlightsThese final 4 video games have proven that he lays all of it out on the road to make saves. On high of this, there’s clearly much less baggage proper now between him and Binnington. I’m not saying that Greiss needs to be named the starter, however switching some issues up wouldn’t damage the already overwhelmed 2022-23 Blues.
Binnington’s Brutal Stretch ContinuesAs a lot as this has to do with Greiss taking part in effectively, it additionally has to do with Binnington’s brutal stretch. He has been horrific for the previous two weeks, nevertheless it’s not all on him. It’s been talked about a whole bunch of occasions this season, however the Blues’ protection is as below-average because it will get. There isn’t any consciousness or toughness in that unit proper now. On high of that, they clearly lack confidence with veterans like Torey Krug, Nick Leddy, and Colton Parayko getting blasted each night time. They deserve each ounce of criticism with how they’ve carried out this season. The Blues’ defensive unit makes up $27.1 million of wage cap house this season. That’s approach an excessive amount of cap house getting used for a unit that has horrific numbers this season.
On high of his six-game dropping streak, Binnington’s “robust man” antics are hurting the crew as effectively. As he continues to run his mouth towards the opposing benches, the Blues proceed to surrender approach too many targets. I’m not blaming him completely for his lack of success this season, however he has not made massive saves for the previous two weeks. Through the Blues’ win streak in November, he was making these saves, however that ship has apparently sailed since.
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)Let’s get to these numbers over the previous six video games. He has a report of 0-6-0 with a SV% of .827. Whereas Greiss is dealing with an astronomical quantity of pictures, Binnington is barely dealing with 26 pictures per sport in that stretch. I get that a whole lot of these pictures on aim are high-danger probabilities, however Greiss has made massive saves when wanted, whereas Binnington has not. Sooner or later, the Blues coaches and entrance workplace need to step up and make a giant change. I imagine that change needs to be letting Greiss get extra begins and making an attempt to provide Binnington a cool-down interval. He’s embarrassed himself on a number of events this season, and if he hadn’t received the Stanley Cup in 2019 for this franchise, I’m unsure he would nonetheless be right here.
I’m not saying that the Blues needs to be completed with Binnington, however rolling him out because the clear-cut starter proper now shouldn’t be the transfer. Whereas I don’t suppose there’s any probability that Greiss might be 2021-22 Husso, he’s at the very least been extra competent in the previous couple of weeks over Binnington. I’m unsure how this will get resolved, however I don’t anticipate the Blues to make the suitable choice on this case.
Ethan Carter has been writing at The Hockey Writers for over three years now. He additionally co-hosts The Blue Word Podcast for the Bleav Community, which covers the Blues and the NHL a number of occasions per week.
The post Blues’ Greiss Deserves Extra Begins as Binnington Struggles first appeared on Raw News.
