LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi did the Buffalo Sabres a huge solid today when he traded his backup tender, Jonathon Bernier to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Lombardi finally punctuated the run-on trade rumors that had been surrounding Bernier, for months. Jonathon Quick will be the Kings starter for this upcoming season and many more to come. By trading Bernier to the Kings, we now know what the market will be in this thin crop of quality tenders.
Leafs GM Dave Nonis over paid to get Bernier, in my opinion.
Take a look at the haul that the Kings will receive in return for their former backup:
LA sends Bernier, a former first round draft choice, to Toronto in exchange for top six forward Matt Frattin (former second rounder from NoDak), backup goalie Ben Scrivens (former free agent from Cornell University), and Toronto’s choice of either a 2014 or 2015 second-round draft choice.
To add the ultimate cherry on the sundae, the Leafs also sent $500,000 to the Kings in the deal.
I attended the Darcy Regier pre-entry draft press conference on Thursday. I heard Regier reiterate the same point that his owner Terry Pegula made the day before about wanting to hold on to Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek for the final season of their respective contracts.
I didn't read too far into the possibility of the Sabres holding on to both of their high profile players who will become UFAs on July 5, 2014. What did you expect Pegula and Regier to say? "We're getting rid of Miller and Vanek immediately"? Regier was careful to say that the players reserve the right to review their individual options. I took that to mean that both Miller and Vanek are keeping their options open, and well they should.
If you ask me, Miller will be moving on to white ice and Vanek will be staying in Buffalo.
Free agents and UFAs go be have decisions to make too. Pegula and Regier know this better than any two hockey executives in the NHL.
The market ultimately dictates the terms, conditions and options that free agents are faced with. On Sunday, the Leafs and Kings upped the ante on the value of quality goaltenders in this Summer's marketplace.
Thanks, sabres.com
Ryan Miller is not burdened by the albatross that is Roberto Luongo's contract. Miller has one year left at $6.5 million. He's the most valuable goaltender in this current marketplace and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. I didn't believe it when he said it and I don't believe it today. You are the most coveted goal tender in North America right now, Ryan. Enough of the "golly-gee-shucks the Sabres control my future" schtick. Down deep, Miller has the leverage and he knows it.
On locker clean out day, Miller led off his press gathering with an interesting take. Miller said that his future in Buffalo rests in Darcy Regier's hands.
Darcy Regier and the other 29 GMs met in Boston last Wednesday. You better believe that after the talk of visors and no-touch icing was over, the trade talks and chatter began in earnest. This goal market is all about supply and demand. There are one or two franchise goalies "available" and six or seven teams want them.
On Sunday. the market spoke and the Bernier trade is driving up Miller's trade value all the more. Frattin, Scrivens and a second rounder for a seldom-used backup tender? Miller's wins 40+ games a season, he's won a Vezina and he's a prime time playoff performer.
Regier would be able to ask for, and receive, a top six forward, a top four D, and a first round draft choice for Miller.
Its time to trade Miller away for a treasure trove of diamonds and gems.
Miller's agent, Mike Liut, is an astute hockey man. He's undoubtedly heard that NHL GMs Craig Mac Tavish of Edmonton and Chuck Fletcher of Minnesota laying down the gauntlet as both teams are in desperate search mode for their next #1 goal tender. You can forget about Pittsburgh's Marc Andre Fleury, too. Ray Shero isn't going to trade "The Flower" this Summer, especially if he trades Kris Letang at next week's entry draft. Luongo's contract is too fat for the Oilers and Wild to acquire and bake into their respective salary cap.
Miller is the belle of the ball right now.
St. Louis and Washington are also showing interest in Miller. Phoenix and the NY Islanders are said to be interested in upgrading their goaltending.
All due respect to Bernier, he ain't Ryan Miller. Bernier aspires to be Ryan Miller.
The Sabres are about to hit CTL+ALT+DEL this week. Moving Miller right now makes sense. He's 32 and he's earned the right to compete for a Stanley Cup. The Sabres want to draft and trade for young, aggressive players.
Time to make a deal at the entry draft.
By trading Miller away, the Sabres will take possession of several valuable building blocks that will allow Regier to conduct his wholesale changes on the fly.
If Regier plays the Miller situation correctly, the Sabres will be exponentially improved come opening night of the 2013-14 NHL season.
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