from Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong must solve his salary-cap puzzle from the goal line out.

His biggest piece, by far, is goaltender Jordan Binnington. As a restricted free agent he will multiply the $650,000 salary he earned last season after finally graduating from the minors. That math will dictate what’s left for others....

Goaltender Matt Murray signed a three-year, $11.25 million contract after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup as a young pro. But he was nowhere near unrestricted free agency then, so he lacked leverage.

Binnington signed his first pro deal when he was 19, and he turns 26 next week. He was no ordinary rookie. John Gibson (Ducks) and Connor Hellebuyck (Jets) each got better than $6 million per season on long-term deals at a similar age. They had a more extensive NHL track record than Binnington, but not nearly his postseason success....

My suggestion: $22 million for four years, a tidy reward for the Cup run that also would grant Binnington unrestricted free agency at age 30. Just trying to help.

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