Boston Bruins: Jordan Binnington’s time with Providence Bruins invaluable

The Boston Bruins may well have a bit of a secret weapon when it comes to beating the St. Louis Blues’ rookie goaltending sensation, Jordan Binnington in the Stanley Cup Final. That is, the fact he played a season for their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

You’d assume that the moment the Stanley Cup Final was set in stone or even the moment the Boston Bruins knew that there was a chance they’d face Jordan Binnington, that they reached out to the coaching and scouting staff with the Providence Bruins.

After all, having spent a year with the player, you’d assume they’d have a pretty strong read on his tendencies and flaws.

Much like most of his professional career so far, Jordan Binnington ended up with the Boston Bruins’ affiliate, the Providence Bruins almost by virtue of fate. During the 2017-18 season, the St. Louis Blues were without an affiliate of their own and lacking depth between the pipes, the Providence side took him in on loan.

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He went on to notch 17 wins in 28 games with the team, finding himself named to the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic, claiming a 0.926 save percentage and 2.05 goals against average across that campaign. These numbers stood him in good stead when the St. Louis Blues sorted out an AHL affiliation deal for this season.

This season saw Jordan Binnington starting the year with the San Antonio Rampage, before working his way into the St. Louis Blues line-up, where he not only filled in for Jake Allen, but eventually won the starting role.

It’s rare for another team, such as the Boston Bruins, to have played such a clear-cut role in the development of a player that has been drafted and remained with that team for his whole professional tenure. However, the case of Binnington is one of those seldom seen examples.

His time suiting up in Providence Bruins colours could well prove the difference maker in a Stanley Cup Final now. The Boston Bruins will be picking the brains of every player that ever faced him on practice ice, as well as every member of the coaching staff that ever fixed the smallest of flaws.

These tiny nuggets of information could be the difference between a player shooting glove-side or stick-side. They could be the difference between going high or low, left or right. That one tiny difference could end up being the game-winning goal in a Stanley Cup Final.

Whether it’s by fate or otherwise, the Boston Bruins have a clear insight into the opposition goaltenders’ very psyche. They’d be incredibly wise to maximise this knowledge.