Blues goalie Jordan Binnington

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Some like him. Some love him. Some dislike him. Some hate him.

No matter what the differing opinions are of Jordan Binnington, the Blues goalie will never change from his fiery competitive nature. And if that sometimes means crossing the line to fuel, or stoke, that fire, so be it.

It seems the 29-year-old thrives off of the heat.

He's had run-ins with the opposition and nearly had a goalie fight this season with Marc-Andre Fleury (damn, that needed to happen!).

But just completing his fifth season at the NHL level, Binnington can hang his hat on the fact he can handle a heavy workload, which he did with 61 games (60 starts, one of seven goalies in the league to accomplish such a feat.

The numbers don't reek greatness (27-27-6, 3.31 goals-against average and .894 save percentage), of which the goals-against and save percentage are the worst of his five seasons in St. Louis, but once again, as has been the story told over and over, it's a sure-tell sign of just how poorly the Blues performed not only in front of him but backup Thomas Greiss as well.

And for the first time in his career, he's not participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs and it doesn't sit well with Binnington. He offers up his thoughts on ending the season too soon, the workload of the season among other topics:

On not playing in the playoffs:

Out of a 10? It's tough. It's not where you want to be as a competitor, as an athlete, as a worker, right, for the organization, for the city, you want to make everyone proud, right? This is not where you want to be.

Culture slipped this year, maybe professionalism of team on and off the ice, little things; did you sense that at all?

I think at this level, you've got to be on top of yourself and this is the best of the best, alpha dog, whatever you want to call it league. The treadmill's moving fast, so you've got to stay on it and stay with it. I don't know in a particular situation, but I thinjk if that's being said, it's something to listen to and to look in the mirror and hold yourself accountable and ask yourself if you're doing the best you can. And if you're not, it's tough, because you've worked your whole life to get to this point. You might as well keep pushing and see where you can take it.

After pushing Avalanche as well as anyone last year, why was there a 28-point slip this season and you're sitting here now out of the playoffs:

I don't think it's anything particular. It's a combination of a lot of things and maybe that has something to do with it, just accountability on yourself. I think that's somewhere we can start, is asking yourself, 'Are you doing as much as you can to be the best you can be, to be there for your teammates, to play hard for each other?' Yeah, I don't know if we did that. In saying that, every year's different, and stuff happens. You've got to just put your best foot forward and handle it the best way you can because it's never going to be smooth all the time.

What needs to happen defensively next year to get to get back to being tighter, playing faster, secure your zone better?

I just think buying into a system with structure and playing together and playing for each other. That would go a long way I think, and it's something that we'll see.

Assessing your performance this season:

Not satisfied. In saying that, I feel I'm good, I feel good about it in a way just where with the continued progression and details in the game and steps as a leader and seeing more, taking it in, learning lessons. I feel good about that. I try not to think too far ahead. I try to stay in the present moment and I did that throughout the season and really took things on, felt them good or bad and will continue to take that with me moving forward and just continue to evolve.

As competitive as you are, how frustrating was this season go the way they did giving up a lot of goals:

It's part of it, and sometimes struggling's fun because then you've got to find a way through it and that feeling of achievement is one that you earn and that's special. That's what you remember. It is what it is. You can't take things too hard. You've got to just feel it and move on.

Does 60 starts mean anything? Show you that you can handle the load? How do you feel?

Yeah, I feel strong. It's a lot of games. Obviously they weren't the easiest games too, so you feel that. I feel proud about that and I feel grateful to be healthy. To look back on that, that's good.

Berube said he didn't think you wore down:

I think as the years go on, I think you learn more about what you need and taking care of yourself, recovery and rest. I found fun in that and just creating a recipe for myself and a plan. It's just ongoing.

How difficult will it be to watch the playoffs:

I'm excited. I want to watch it and I want to feel that feeling of I want to be out there. I'm pissed off. It's good. It's a fun time of year for hockey, for hockey fans, players. You've just got to feel it right now and remember it.

How close or how far away do you think this team is to regaining it:

I think things can change quickly. I'm a believer of that. I think it's a mindset and sometimes you've got to get hit, you've got to respond. That's where you get to show your true colors and how you want to go about things, how you want to be remembered.

Looking forward to working with Joel Hofer and is he ready to make full switch to NHL?

Yeah, I think so. He's put in some good years there, he's had a good showing at the end of the season and yeah, he's a great guy. We'll work together to just bring success and be there for the team and do our job.

Thoughts on overall D, penalty kill in terms of issues that plagued this team from start:

I just think there was maybe a little too much thinking. When things aren't going well, you're not just playing and doing. You're kind of thinking and over-thinking. I think if we can eliminate that and if we form a system that we're all on board with, myself included, understanding what's predictable plays, et cetera. Having next-play speed and reading and anticipating and being a difference maker rather than, 'Do you want to make that difference and get that puck out or make that save or score that goal? Or do you want to just get by and not look bad? I think as athletes, we want to make a difference and being comfortable enough to feel that way and knowing your teammate has your back, I think that will do good, do well.