Kings demote Bernier
Los Angeles has sent rookie netminder Jonathan Bernier down to Manchester of the AHL today, but still has four goalies battling it out in training camp.
It still seems likely that Jason LaBarbera is the team's 1A option and Erik Ersberg the 1B. I believe Jonathan Quick is the third goaltender still vying for a spot, but I'm not sure on the fourth.
Either way, it makes sense to allow Bernier to have his first full season as a pro come in the minors.
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Labels: Jonathan Bernier, Kings
by James Mirtle @ 3:34 PM
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9 Comments:
This is actually great move for Bernier. With goalies usual talk is always "he needs to play" and that's 100 percent true but what you don't hear as much is this: Being a goalie at NHL level is mentally so hard that basically they need time to mature not only as goalies but as human beings.
Three things:
1) Jason Labarbera should be well clear of every other goalie in the system, given his .910 SV% last year, and his .930+ SV% in the AHL sinc 2003-04.
2) Erik Ersberg posted a .897 SV% in the AHL in 30 games, and a .927 SV% in the NHL in 14 games. Which is closer to his true talent level?
3) Jonathan Bernier's .908 SV% is identical to what he posted in his draft year (two seasons ago). He really shouldn't be getting NHL consideration unless he can post better numbers in a tougher league (the AHL).
2) Erik Ersberg posted a .897 SV% in the AHL in 30 games, and a .927 SV% in the NHL in 14 games. Which is closer to his true talent level?
I think that's what we're about to find out.
LaBarbera and Ersberg have both been pretty awful in the pre-season. Especially LaBarbera his first game was absolutely brutal.
I heard talk of Bernier being injured (he didn't play a preseason game, just rookie games beforehand).
Yes, I believe he is battling a minor hip injury, which wouldn't have helped his cause in trying to unseat one of the incumbents.
The 4th goalie is Martin Jones, in camp on a try-out. He'll probably be shipped back to the Calgary Hitmen this week.
I liked Ersberg to take over as the #1 before long this season anyway, but was impressed by Labarbera's attitude and his off-season training (interview I saw) before Bernier was returned to the minors.
He didn't play as a precaution even though the injury was minor but the Kings are aware of the hip problems the upright butterfly style causes -- how could they not be? -- and weren't about to take chances. Smart.
They know that, to say the least, this isn't "the year" for the Kings and he's only 19: he needs time and, as anon's excellent point outlined, personal maturity is a big part of being a #1 NHL netminder. Look at Fleury. And Price?
The Kings will struggle to make the salary floor this year, and already they took a pass on Mathieu Schneider. If they don't make an effort to pick up Khabibulin, then you'll know Kings ownership isn't even pretending to care about competing this year. Khabibulin is in the last year of his contract, so it's not like LA would be saddled with a big contract forever. It must be tough to be a Kings fan these days.
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