| Finally, the NHL is almost ready to call upon Jonathan | | | | But the goalie with the hybrid stand-up/butterfly style |
| Bernier. For real this time and he's ready. The Kings | | | | has certainly turned a corner in 2009-10. Bernier has |
| drafted the 6-0, 185 lb goaltender 11th overall in 2006 | | | | been electric with the Monarchs this season, posting a |
| and expected that he would be the man between the | | | | 17-10-4 record, 2.05 GAA, and .938 SV%. He's been a |
| pipes for the Kings for many years to come. While | | | | brick wall, stealing games and posting shutouts (he has |
| fellow highly regarded prospects Carey Price and | | | | 4 this year so far). |
| Steve Mason have made an impact in the NHL things | | | | It is clear that Bernier is as close to NHL-ready as an |
| haven't gone quite as smoothly for Bernier. | | | | AHL goalie can be. Unfortunately for him, while he was |
| Trouble started in 2008 when Mason was given the | | | | grooming himself in the minors for the past year and a |
| nod over Bernier to be the starting goaltender at the | | | | half, Jonathan Quick has emerged as a legitimate |
| World Junior Championships for the teams' semi-final | | | | tender in L.A., and Erik Ersberg is dependable in a role |
| game against the USA. Bernier, who believed the | | | | as backup. Quick is under contract for another 3 |
| coaches gave up on him too quickly, said this about | | | | seasons, while Ersberg has 1 more year left on his |
| the situation at the time: | | | | deal. (source: |
| "I have a lot of respect for those guys, but at the | | | | There has been some thought that Bernier could be |
| same time I guess they weren't fair with me," Bernier | | | | used as trade bait to land another forward - as part of |
| said of the Team Canada coaches. "(Mason) had an | | | | a package to land Ilya Kovalchuk perhaps. That is |
| OK game (Wednesday) and it was the same thing for | | | | unlikely to happen, and with so many goalies allegedly |
| me. I didn't get a second chance and he did." | | | | available in the NHL (Jaroslav Halak, Cory Schneider, |
| It was a glint of immaturity from the youngster who, | | | | Martin Biron to start) the Kings may not find value |
| from reading between the lines, felt he deserved the | | | | back for a prospect with Bernier's ceiling. |
| opportunity over Mason based on Entry Draft position | | | | Eventually the Kings will have to make room for |
| - Mason was selected in the 3rd round in 2006 - and | | | | Bernier. While Quick has been solid, he's no Martin |
| the fact that Bernier already had 4 NHL games under | | | | Brodeur, Ryan Miller, or Roberto Luongo. Bernier has |
| his belt. | | | | that type of upside and so he brings the real possibility |
| 2008-09 proved to be a learning experience for the | | | | that he could improve the Kings team if given the |
| goaltender who saw things come so easily for him as | | | | chance. |
| a junior goaltender with the QMJHL's Lewiston | | | | If you were lucky enough to draft Bernier in your |
| MAINEiacs. Posting respectable numbers (2.40 GAA, | | | | fantasy hockey league and patient enough to keep |
| .914 SV%) with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs, | | | | him, or if you were smart enough to acquire him at |
| Bernier was solid but unspectacular and also | | | | perhaps below-market value last year, the time is |
| somewhat inconsistent. | | | | nearing for that investment to pay off. |