No. 2: Jonathan Bernier
When the Toronto Maple Leafs originally acquired Jonathan Bernier from the LA Kings in June, 2013, it felt like everything was going to be OK.
Coming off one of the worst collapses in NHL History (up 4-1 in Game 7), the Leafs wanted to upgrade their goaltending. Bernier was a hot commodity, as he’d put up great stats as the back-up with the Kings, and seemed posed for a starting job.
Although Toronto went from the playoff picture to the NHL Lottery upon his arrival, Bernier wasn’t to blame. In fact, he gave the Toronto Maple Leafs some reliable goaltending. The team in front of him was just so bad, that Carey Price wouldn’t even have been able to get those teams to the playoffs.
If you compare his Leafs stats to Andersen’s, they’re essentially the same goalie:
- Freddie Andersen: 149-74-35 record, .914 SV%, 2.78 GAA (via: hockeyreference.com)
- Jonathan Bernier: 59-68-17 record, .915 SV%, 2.81 GAA (via: hockeyreference.com)
The fact that Bernier was able to put up the same stats as Andersen did, on a roster that was 10 times worse, speaks volumes to Bernier’s play. If Bernier was the No. 1 goalie instead of Andersen for the past five years, we could be talking about him as a top-10 or top-five goalie in the NHL.
Bernier gets chirped because he’s played on some terrible teams during his career, but his stats show that in the right situation, he should be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL.
Currently, sporting a .913 SV% and 2.76 GAA on one of the worst teams in the NHL, Bernier would be a great addition to the Leafs.
Bernier’s $3M cap-hit is high for a back-up, but if Detroit is willing to retain 50 percent, it’s much more manageable.