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Signings and Rumblings / Free Agency: UFAs - Jonathan Bernier |
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Signings and Rumblings / Free Agency: UFAs - Jonathan Bernier
Good afternoon Devils fans. Sorry for the delay. I usually get to these in the morning but had some home renovation projects to wrap up. First, we got exciting news this past Friday as Erik Haula signed a 3 year, $9.45M contract with NJ. This is structured to have a cap hit each year of $3.15M with a signing bonus of $1M annually for the first two years. It is a bit higher of a price tag than I was expecting to keep him. I had him priced around $2-2.5M based on the market and his age. However, I’m happy to have him back on the team for the next 3 years as our young core develops and, hopefully, gains better and deeper playoff experience. I like a lot of what he brings to the table, both as a player and a veteran leader for the team. Welcome back, Erik!
Additionally, there’s been some rumbles today as we approach the 2023 NHL Draft this coming Wednesday. As a continuation of the last article, Winnipeg’s goalie Connor Hellebuyck is being shopped around and the Devils are a possible frontrunner to land him. As per my last article, I made the argument against Hellebuyck, considering his age, asking price in a trade, and possible extension after this season. If we could get him in a decent rental deal without giving up a ton, I’d say “sure, go for it.” However, knowing Winnipeg’s position, they’re going to try and maximize the acquisition side of this trade to jump start their rebuild. I saw some solid debates about this topic in last article’s comments and can see both sides of it. However, I’m happy sticking with our Vanacek/Schmid tandem, assuming Winnipeg aren’t foolish enough to be make a great trade offer available to us.
Per Kevin Weekes, the Devils are close to extending RW Timo Meier to an 8 year, $8.5M AAV contract. Nothing is set in stone, of course, until his signature is on there. If that is the case, I would say that’s a great lockdown by GM Tom Fitzgerald. If he can get Meier below $9M for the majority of primetime for Bratt, Hughes, Hischier, and Mercer, that would seriously elevate our top 6 and give time to figure out how make all the pieces work on the ice to maximize their effectiveness, particularly down the road to playoffs.
Here are the UFAs currently on the Devils’ roster with my suggestions:
Offense:
Erik Haula - Suggest resigning at $2M for 2-3 years with bonuses to offset bidding war
Tomas Tatar - Let him walk
Miles Wood - Let him walk
Defense:
Ryan Graves - Keep if we could afford, let him walk if we can’t, totally split either way
Goaltending:
Jonathan Bernier
Potential Leftover Cap - $10,532,500
Our final UFA to discuss is:
Jonathan Bernier
Fun Fact: Bernier was the highest drafted goalie of his year. The next goalie to be drafted was Riku Helenius by Tampa Bay, who played only 1 NHL game while bouncing from the minors and Euro leagues. Bernier’s first goal scored against him in the Canadian juniors league QMJHL was by his own brother, Marc-Andre. Reminds me of the Simpsons episode of Bart vs. Lisa in the kids hockey league. His hometown of Laval, a suburb of Montreal, is home to a massive Canadian Space Camp Center and Museum, the Cosmodôme.
Player Profile and Season Storyline:
An 11th overall in 2006, Jonathan Bernier has had quite an NHL journey. A backup for Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles, he was able to etch his name on the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals after the Kings defeated the Devils in 6 games. He would eventually be traded to Toronto to serve as John Gibson’s backup. Becoming an unrestricted free agent, he would sign with Colorado for an injury and sickness heavy season which included two head injuries, an upper body issue, and an infection. He would seek new pastures in Detroit with a 3 year deal, backing up Jimmy Howard. Traded to Carolina and unable to come to terms with the team, he would eventually land in NJ for a two year deal. While he did have a few wins to his name while wearing the Red and Black, he unfortunately would be sidelined with a lower body hip injury, having played his most recent Devils game December 3rd, 2021.
Stat Analysis:
In his very limited time with the Devils, he would earn a record of 4W-4L-1OTL with a save percentage of .902 and a goals against average of 3.06. A 34 year old backup with an injury laden career, those numbers are about where I would expect them to be. At this point in his career, I don’t see him putting much of a season together based on his age and possible long term injury issues. With Vanacek and Schmid holding down the fort this year and a possible move for Hellebuyck in the works, there really isn’t a place for Bernier in the team’s future.
Benefits and Drawbacks for Bringing Back:
Benefits - None
Drawbacks - Health liability, aging player, lackluster results over his career
Should we keep him:
Verdict - Walk. There’s no nice way to state this; Jonathan Bernier is most likely done in the NHL. A capable backup who had potential and had some decent years here and there with other teams, he’s unfortunately looking at the end of the line with his continued ailments. Who knows, maybe a team will take a gamble and give him a 1 year deal as they develop a young goalie into a starter and he could serve as a mentor/backup. Maybe he’ll end up on the goaltending coaching side of things. Whatever happens, I wish him the best.
Here is the potential cap as we wrap up our free agency previews based on my estimations. (I’ve updated any players that have actually signed contracts in real life and where that would leave the potential cap.)
Offense:
Nathan Bastian - Possibly Resigned $1.3M (could be 1-3 years, up to Bastian/Devils)
Jesper Boqvist - Possibly Resigned $1.5M (1-2 year prove it deal)
Jesper Bratt - Actually Resigned 8 year, $7.875M AAV
Michael McCleod - Possibly Resigned $1.75M
Timo Meier - Possibly Resigned $8.5M
Yegor Sharangovich - Part of a possible trade package
Erik Haula - Actually Resigned 3 year, $3.15M
Tomas Tatar - Let him walk
Miles Wood - Let him walk
Defense:
Kevin Bahl - Possibly Resigned $1.5M for 2-3 years
Ryan Graves - Keep if we could afford, let him walk if we can’t, totally split either way
Goaltending:
MacKenzie Blackwood - Trade for picks
Jonathan Bernier - Let him walk / possible retirement
Potential Leftover Cap with Confirmed Real Life Signings - $9,007,500
Going forward, all articles will have the current real life cap space as we see more signings and trades. Leave your thoughts or comments below. Raise Hell!
-Josh Biringer
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
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