The Toronto Maple Leafs deal sending goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Anaheim Ducks cleared the goaltender’s $4.15 Million cap hit for the 2016-17 season. That appears to be the only benefit the club will derive from the July 8th trade.
According to Sportsnet’s
Chris Johnston, the Leafs will only receive a draft pick if Bernier reaches the Stanley Cup Final with the Ducks or another club next season and makes the majority of the post-season starts for that club.
The 27-year-old Bernier went 12-21-2, with a 2.88 GAA and .908 save percentage in 38 games for the Leafs last season and clearly did not have the confidence of head coach Mike Babcock, who went more with James Reimer until he was traded to San Jose in February and split duties with rookie Garret Sparks after the trade deadline.
The condition that would have to be met for Toronto to recoup a draft pick from Anaheim would be if the Ducks win the Stanley Cup or if they trade Bernier to a team that wins the Cup.
Bernier would have to make 50% or more of the playoff starts for either team and in that scenario, the Leafs would receive the Ducks 2017 second rounder.
If Anaheim loses the Cup Final or trade Bernier to a team that loses the Final and he makes 50% or more of the post-season starts, Toronto would get the Ducks 2017 third round pick.
Johnston also reports that the 2017 second rounder involved in the deal to acquire goalie Frederik Andersen would be the middle pick of the three 2nd’s the Leafs have in the 2017 Draft. Toronto has their own pick, Ottawa’s 2nd from the Dion Phaneuf deal and San Jose’s from the Roman Polak deal.
These conditions would seeming be impossible to attain, since Bernier is expected to backup young starter John Gibson with the Ducks, but conditional picks sometimes result in a benefit for a club.
The Leafs received a conditional 2018 fourth round pick in the Reimer-to-San Jose deal last February that became a third round pick when the Sharks reached the Stanley Cup Final.
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