Jonathan Bernier is looking forward to his role as backup goalie to
Semyon Varlamov with the Avalanche, knowing full well that the team struggled big time last season.
Bernier was an unrestricted free agent when he signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract on July 1 as a replacement for
Calvin Pickard, who was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.
Bernier, 29, said he had "a really good feeling" when he spoke with general manager
Joe Sakic about playing in Colorado.
"I thought it would be a good spot for me," he said. "I know Varly a little bit and I was very excited to sign here. I kind of lived it a little bit going through the rebuild in Toronto (from 2013-16) and there's a lot of things I would have changed when I was there. Now, having that experience in Toronto, I can bring that to my advantage here and just focus on my own job and get better every day."
Bernier went 59-68-17 with Toronto and played four games with the AHL Marlies in 2015-16.
"I feel like I missed my chance a little bit in Toronto, and then it's tough to get back," he said. "I want to make sure I have a good season and to prove to myself that I can be a No. 1 or can play 25-30 games or whatever it is."
Bernier, who is from Laval, Quebec, was Los Angeles' first-round pick (No. 11) in the 2006 NHL draft. He spent parts of five seasons with the Kings, three with the Maple Leafs, and he went 21-7-4 last season with Anaheim while posting a 2.51 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
Bernier has a 109-95-27 record in 251 NHL games with a 2.66 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
Sakic has said he doesn't want Varlamov, who is coming off a surgery on each hip, to play "much more than 50 games" this season. "Jonathan played almost 40 games last year for Anaheim, so we know he can (handle the necessary workload)," he said.
The Avalanche will need a healthy and productive Varlamov as well as a dependable Bernier for any chance to be competitive after last season's dreadful 48-point season.
"It can't get worse," Bernier said. "I lived it in Toronto, and it's not easy, but you have to turn the page quickly. There's going to be ups and downs, it's never an easy task as a goalie, but it's a great challenge to have in front of you to get this team better."
Bernier got to know Varlamov while taking part in former Avalanche goalie coach
Francois Allaire's camp in Montreal.
"A few years back we trained together for a couple weeks," Bernier said. "The one thing I know so far from being here for a few days is he's a really hard working guy. We'll be able to push each other.
"I talked to players that played here before, you kind of do your homework and you want to make sure you're landing in a good spot for you and your family. Knowing Varly and a few guys here -- (
Francois) Giguere played here, and he's one of my close friends -- I thought this was the best fit I had."
The Avalanche have hired a fulltime goalie coach,
Jussi Parkkila, to replace Allaire. Bernier is getting know Parkkila, who worked with Varlamov in the KHL in 2007-08.
"There's a lot of talent here, we just have to be on the same page with the system as a team," Bernier said.
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Defenseman
Nikita Zadorov wasn't on the ice Saturday after signing a two-year, $4.3 million contract Friday. He still needs to get his immigration papers completed.
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Coach
Jared Bednar said he's spoken with
Matt Duchene and is happy with his attitude.
"I was checking to see how he's doing, where his head's at," he said. "He's a motivated player. I think he's come back determined to have a bounce-back year, same as a lot of our other veteran guys. He's ready to go and he's been really good on the ice."
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Varlamov will see some action Sunday in the Burgundy and White Game at Magness Arena on the University of Denver campus. Faceoff is 10 a.m. MT.
Tyson Barrie (upper body),
Mark Barberio (lower body),
Joe Colborne (back),
Tyson Jost (groin) and
Colin Wilson (undisclosed) are nursing nagging injuries that don't appear to be serious.
Barberio and Wilson skated by themselves on a second rink Saturday while their group practiced on the main practice rink.
"We're going to evaluate our guys on a daily basis," Bednar said. "It's early, we have a lot of time here. We don't want to rush any guys that are injured back."
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