Is it possible that we have seen the last of Jonathan Bernier playing in a Maple Leafs uniform??
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock was quick to name Garret Sparks the starter for the contest against the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Center on Thursday after a subpar performance by Bernier in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Babcock recognizes that Toronto has played better in front of James Reimer and Sparks (3-1-0 in four starts) and that Bernier’s struggles has adversely affected the club in front of him.
"The guys believe in (Sparks). When your guys believe, they don't play nervous in their own zone and do their own job.… Babcock said after the morning skate on Thursday. "When guys don't believe, everybody is so busy doing someone else's job, no one does their own job."
Babcock’s modus operandi in his first season is to hold players accountable for their actions on the ice and if they play hard and achieve some level of success, they get to play again. The Leafs hoped that after a successful 3-0-1 stint with the AHL Marlies, Bernier could bounce back and break through with his first win of the season, but allowing five goals against the Lightning has only reinforced the Leafs coach’s lack of trust.
With James Reimer at less than 100%, Bernier will backup Sparks on Thursday and possibly Saturday against his former team, the Los Angeles Kings. What will happen after Reimer returns is up for debate. Serving as the #2 and playing the occasional game will likely not help in turning things around and could lower Bernier’s already sagging trade value around the league.
Observers like Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos believe that the Leafs should place the 27-year-goalie on waivers, in the hopes that someone would claim him or to allow him to play an extended period in the AHL. It is unlikely that another team would claim Bernier with another season left on his contract and the 10-day conditioning stint did not do anything to boost his confidence.
A possibility that could solve be an answer for Bernier, Toronto and the Calgary Flames is a trade. Flames management has internally discussed taking on Bernier’s contract according to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis.
Calgary Team President Brian Burke and GM Brad Treliving were in attendance at ACC on Tuesday and are looking to bolster their goaltending after a six-game winning streak has inserted them back into the playoff race in the Pacific Division. Jonas Hiller and Karri Ramo have struggled and are both unrestricted free agents next summer, top prospect Jon Gillies and former NHLer Kevin Poulin are out injured and Joni Ortio did not impress in a short NHL stint earlier in the year.
The Flames have just under $2.2 Million in salary cap room according to General Fanager, which would mean they would have to shed a significant contract to fit in Bernier’s $4.15 Million cap hit.
The Leafs would likely have to take back Hiller’s contract ($4.5 Million) in the deal to balance the books, but could get a prospect or draft pick out of the trade.
Buzzcast panelist Russ Cohen floated the possibility of someone like St. Catharines, ON native Mark Jankowski being a possible target in a deal for Bernier.
The 21-year-old center was selected 21st overall by the Flames in 2012 and is in his senior season at Providence College (where Lou Lamoriello served as coach and athletic director before joining the New Jersey Devils in 1987) and there have been reports that Jankowski may go the way of Mike Reilly, Kevin Hayes and possibly Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey and opt to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The NHL holiday trade freeze begins midnight Saturday, so if there is any truth to the speculation of interest on the part of Calgary, it may have to wait until after the freeze is lifted on December 28.
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