Looking
to solidify their goaltending, theToronto Maple Leafs on
Sunday acquired Jonathan
Bernier from
the Los Angeles Kings.
Bernier
had been stuck behind Jonathan
Quick in
Los Angeles. The Maple Leafs, according to general manager Dave
Nonis, were interested in upgrades at any position.
''I
think it's incumbent upon every team to look at what's available and
if there is an ability to improve you look to do it,'' Nonis said
last week after the GM's meetings in Boston.
Toronto
gave up forward MattFrattin,
backup goaltender BenScrivens and
a second-round pick in the 2014 or 2015 NHL entry draft.
The
24-year-old Bernier is eligible to become a restricted free agent. He
played in 14 regular-season 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.
Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall said the deal had been ''ongoing for
months.''
''It's
kind of bittersweet. Jon's been with us a long time. He's been a
great soldier for us and he's been a very good player for us,''
Hextall said in a video on the Kings' website.
''Unfortunately,
he's stuck behind Jonathan
Quick,
which is a tough situation for Jon. As a sense of fairness to him and
at the timing that we felt was the best for the organization, we made
the move.''
Scrivens,
26, played 20 games for the Maple Leafs this past season with a 7-9
record. Frattin, 25, had seven goals and six assists in 25
regular-season games for the Leafs in 2012-13.
''Just
want to thank MapleLeafs for a first class experience to start my pro
career,'' Frattin tweeted. ''Very excited to join LAKings.''
Bernier
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
goals-against-average and six shutouts.
The
trade raises questions about the status of James Reimer,
who was Toronto's No. 1. The Maple Leafs signed the 25-year-old
Reimer to a three-year contract extension in June 2011.
Bernier
made $1.5 million this season compared with $1.6 million for Reimer.
Frattin earned $850,000 while Scrivens made $600,000.
Toronto's
situation in goal has been unsettled in recent years with the likes
of Reimer, Jonas Gustavsson, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Andrew Raycroft,
Vesa Toskala and Justin Pogge.
Reimer,
whose career has been slowed by injuries, went 19-18-5 this season
with a 2.46 goals-against average and .934 save percentage. He also
helped the Leafs take the Bruins to the seventh game of the opening
round of the playoffs.
The
Bruins won, with former Maple Leafs draft choice Tuukka Rask starring
for Boston in the playoffs.
Source:
yahoo
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