While the Maple Leafs have a handful of young restricted free agents to get signed over the summer, they have most of their core players locked up for the next four years or more.
Leading scorer Phil Kessel signed an eight-year deal prior to the 2013-14 season, team captain Dion Phaneuf agreed to a seven-year extension prior to the Winter Classic, winger David Clarkson has six years remaining on his free agent deal, while Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak are all under contract until the end of the 2017-18 season.
The only one who does not have long term commitment from the Leafs is goaltender Jonathan Bernier.
The 25-year-old Bernier proved that he could handle the responsibilities of being a club’s primary starter after serving as Jonathan Quick’s understudy in Los Angeles for three seasons, with a 2.68 GAA, .923 save percentage and 26-19-7 record in 55 games with Toronto.
Bernier’s performance in his debut with the Leafs was remarkable when you consider that the team in front of him gave up nearly 40 shots a night and his value to the team was emphasized by their decline and fall in the last month, when he was out or severely hampered by a sports hernia injury.
The Kings 2006 first rounder signed a two-year, $5.8 Million bridge deal after being acquired in June 2013 for Ben Scrivens, Matt Frattin and a 2015 second round pick and will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent at the end of next season.
There has not been any indication this summer that talks are ongoing between the Leafs and Bernier’s representatives, but based on the organization’s prior history of being proactive in getting long-term contract extensions with Kessel and Phaneuf, GM Dave Nonis may try to get a deal done before the beginning of training camp in September or at some point during next season.
Leafs management could decide it is better to get Bernier signed now, prior to salaries escalating with the expected increase in the league’s salary cap over the next few years or push off that decision another year or two to confirm his status as a top goaltender.
Colorado’s Seymon Varlamov and New Jersey’s Cory Schneider recently signed deals would likely be used as comparables for Bernier.
Career Stats Varlamov - Age:26, GP - 210, Record – 108-72-24, GAA – 2.55, Sv % - .917, SO – 13, Salary - $5.9 Million through 2019
Schneider - Age:28, GP – 143, Record – 71-41-20, GAA – 2.12, Sv % - .925, SO – 12, Salary - $6 Million through 2022
Bernier - Age:25, GP – 117, Record – 55-39-13, GAA – 2.51, Sv % - .918, SO – 7, Salary - $2.9 Million through 2015
The 26-year-old Vezina finalist signed a five-year, $29.5 Million deal just before the Sochi Olympics and went 41-14-6 this season, leading the young Avs to the playoffs. Schneider was acquired by the Devils from Vancouver in June 2013 and outplayed future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur last season, with a .921 save percentage and Conference-best 1.97 GAA in 45 games.
The 28-year-old netminder signed a seven-year, $42 Million extension last week.
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