Goaltender Jonathan Bernier enters the offseason as one of 21 pending free agents that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to make decisions on.
Reports indicate that the club have not had any contact with the restricted free agent about a new deal.
The 26-year-old netminder completed his second season in Toronto with a 21-28-7 record, 2.87 GAA and .912 save % in 58 games, which was far below expectations, but the former Los Angeles Kings first rounder's subpar record was due in part to the struggling defensive club that played in front of him.
Bernier is a restricted free agent with 2 years left before qualifying for unrestricted free agency, which puts the Maple Leafs in a difficult position.
The Leafs interest in signing Bernier to a long term deal appears to have disapated near the end of the season and the option of going to salary arbitration or offering another two-year bridge deal seems more likely.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, a short-term deal may be preferable to Bernier's camp as well.
“If I was even Bernier, I would go short term this year.” Friedman said on Sportsnet Fan 590 radio on Friday. “I would aim to have a great year and make them pay me, because I don't think you're looking at the Maple Leafs and Bernier right now and see a team that's willing to go long term on a big number.”
A potential hiccup regarding a short-term deal with Toronto is how extensive the teardown will be this summer and how that will affect the quality of the Leafs next season. If as expected, the club trades team captain Dion Phaneuf, winger Phil Kessel and other core players, the club could end up at the bottom of the NHL standings and with a premium draft choice in 2016.
The value of Bernier on the trade market could fall precipitously with a second subpar season, which might be a factor in potentially trading the netminder this summer.
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