The Washington Capitals signed Braden Holtby to a five-year, $30.5 Million contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration with their young starting goaltender. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a hearing with restricted free agent Jonathan Bernier on Friday, but the two sides are not likely going to come to a meeting of the minds.
The 26-year-old Bernier was 21-28-7, 2.87 GAA and .912 save % in his second season with Toronto, far below the expectations the Leafs had when they acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings in 2013.
The netminder’s subpar record was due in part to the Leafs second half struggles and total lack of offense, but they opted for club-elected salary arbitration, which avoids the possibility of Bernier holding out, but it also locks Toronto into whatever the decision the arbitrator makes, even if it exceeds $3.8 Million.
The Leafs could reach an accord before Friday’s hearing if they can come to an agreeable number with the goalie’s representatives, but that would likely mean a multi-year extension. Bernier qualifies for unrestricted free agency next summer and a contract of two years or more would mean buying years of unrestricted free agency.
The Capitals went that route with Holtby and that resulted in a $6.1 Million AAV, but Washington came within a Derek Stepan overtime goal of making the Eastern Conference Final. Bernier will easily eclipse $ 5 Million per season on a long term deal.
With Toronto just entering their rebuild, paying a goalie a high salary may not make a lot of sense, but if the Leafs go just one year with Bernier, they face the possibility of both their goaltenders departing as unrestricted free agents next summer.
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While some observers expect new Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello to be the same dominating presence that he was in New Jersey, Sportsnet’s
Damien Cox believes that the 72-year-old has not been brought in to take over the Leafs organization, but to add a veteran guiding hand to an experienced management group headed by Brendan Shanahan.
Lamoriello signed a three-year deal on Thursday and had nearly three months to ponder the decision to come to Toronto and work with Shanahan at the top of the Leafs power structure, with Kyle Dubas and Mark Hunter handling significant responsibilities and with head coach Mike Babcock signed to an eight-year, $50 Million contract.
Had that been an unacceptable premise, Lamoriello would have stayed in an emeritus position with New Jersey. In Toronto, even with a Detroit Red Wings style multi-layered management group, he will be a large part of the decision making process in hockey operations.
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The Toronto Marlies may be bringing in some veteran muscle for the upcoming season. Sportsnet’s
Andrew Walker reported on Saturday that the Leafs AHL affiliate will be signing enforcer Justin Johnson.
After playing 50 games with Bridgeport and two games with the NY Islanders in 2013-14, the 34-year-old played the entire season with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL.
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