Jonathan Bernier has been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In exchange the Los Angeles Kings will receive, Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a 2nd round pick.
Bernier will be in a battle with Maple Leafs incumbent Maple Leafs starter James Reimer. Last season Bernier played in 14 games for the Kings as Jonathan Quick’s backup. He was 9-3-1 with a 1.88 goals against average and .922 save percentage. He was extremely valuable to the Kings while Quick was finding his game. Bernier, 24, was the Kings first round pick, 11th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry draft. In his NHL career he is 29-20-6 in 62 career appearances, with a 2.36 GAA, and .912 save percentage. He has spent his entire career with Los Angeles, and was a member of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion team.
Bernier has long been looking for an opportunity as a number 1 goaltender, and in Toronto he will have a much better opportunity. As well as Reimer played this season, he is not Jonathan Quick. In Los Angeles, Bernier was stuck behind a top flight number 1 goalie who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012.
Frattin is the key piece in the deal going back to Los Angeles. The 25-year-old winger started off the season on a tear for the Leafs, but a knee injury, and being unable to continue an unsustainable early season shooting percentage seemed to slow him down as the season wore on. Overall, the winger picked up 7 goals and 13 points in 25 games for the Leafs this season. He should provide some scoring punch, and a good skating, gritty and physical presence to the Kings bottom 6. He was drafted by the Leafs in the 4th round, 99th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Scrivens was the Leafs backup goaltender. He played 20 games for the Leafs this season putting up a record of 7-9-0, with a 2.69 GAA, a .915 save percentage and 2 shutouts. Scrivens should take over the role as the Kings backup goaltender. The 26 year old was a free agent signing by the Leafs, after he finished his college career at Cornell.
The second round pick is conditional and will be in either the 2014 or 2015 NHL draft.
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