Bernier’s arrival leaves Leafs ‘deeper’ in goal, GM says
TORONTO — Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis isn’t making any promises for the job of Toronto’s No. 1 goaltender.
He likes his options though after acquiring Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
Bernier, stuck behind all-star goalie Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles, has been looking for more playing time and is sure to put heat on Maple Leafs incumbent James Reimer.
“Nothing is being guaranteed to anyone,” Nonis said during a conference call. “It’s a situation where we feel that we’re deeper. Both have great potential and both are going to get an opportunity to develop and hopefully realize that potential.”
Toronto gave up forward Matt Frattin, backup goaltender Ben Scrivens and a secondround pick in either the 2014 or 2015 NHL Entry Draft to land Bernier.
Nonis said it was a deal he and Kings general manager Dean Lombardi had been discussing since almost the first week of the lockout-shortened season.
“We were close a couple times, but there was always something that stopped the deal,” said Nonis. “We talked on and off for months. This deal, most of it, was in place months ago and we just found a time that was right for both sides.”
Bernier played in 14 regularseason games for the Kings in 2012-13, compiling a 9-3-1 record with a goals-against average of 1.88 and save percentage of .922.
He was taken by the Kings in the first round (11th overall) of the 2006 draft. He played in 62 career regular-season games with the Kings, compiling a 29-20-6 record, .912 save percentage, 2.36 GAA and six shutouts.
The trade definitely puts the status of Reimer as Toronto’s No. 1 in question. The Leafs signed the 25-year-old Reimer to a three-year contract extension in June 2011, but his development has been slowed by injuries.
Reimer went 19-18-5 this season with a 2.46 GAA and a .934 save percentage. He also helped the Leafs take the Bruins to the seventh game of the opening round of the playoffs.
Nonis insists the deal for Bernier should not be seen as a lack of confidence in Reimer.
“This shouldn’t be looked at like a knock on James because it’s not,” said Nonis. “I believe that when you have someone pushing, you get the most out of yourself. And I think the situation here is these guys are going to push each other and we’re going to see some good goaltending because of it.”