Jonathan Bernier’s fiancée Martine Forget set the Internet abuzz with an Instagram picture of their son, Tyler in hockey onesie. Cute, right? Of course, just look at that face.
But what has gotten so many people riled up and jumping to inauspicious conclusions is the fact that the onesie does not have the Leafs logo on the jersey while in past photos the onesie did have the logo. To make matters worse, one user asked Forget why the logo was missing and she responded through comment “It’s for a reason but I can’t tell anyone now :)”
So is Bernier, who is a restricted free agent, leaving the Leafs? If you take the photo and her comment at face value than I would think so. It seems like a subtle but still obvious way of saying, “things are going to change.”
"The obvious angle to explore here is that Bernier is a restricted free agent who is just a year removed from unrestricted free agency and would surely like to get paid this summer. The problem is that he’s the old Maple Leafs regimes ‘future starter’, and the incoming regime may not care to pay a legitimately above average starter like a massive star.There were even whispers ahead of the trade deadline that he could be moved, and no one would be unduly surprised if the club kicked the tires on the goalie market at the draft floor. —Thomas Drance, The Leafs Nation"
Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports stated in his article that the altered photo had to do with Forget’s work and not Bernier’s future.
So we really don’t know what’s going on. But the truth is there is a strong possibility that Bernier will don a different jersey next year. Other media outlets have explored different options, moving Bernier in a trade with the San Jose Sharks or the Edmonton Oilers (two teams looking for a new guy between the pipes).
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It also seems pretty clear that the Maple Leafs are looking to create a new identity and that means unloading talent and moving pieces around to create an entirely different team. I am not saying that that means Bernier is a goner, but it makes it a possibility.
Good goaltenders are hard to come by and Bernier is young (26 years old) and has gained a decent amount of NHL experience through his time with the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. This season he played 58 games and recorded a 21-28-7 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.87 goals against average. Not great numbers, but better than fellow teammate James Reimer’s 9-16-1 record (.907 SV, 3.16 GAA).
If the Leafs do offer him a contract, I wouldn’t expect it to be anything substantial—maybe only a couple of years. This way, the team can figure out if he is really No. 1 goaltender material. It does take players time to develop and Bernier has shown he can be good; he just needs to prove he can be consistent and good enough.
I have a feeling this summer is going to be very interesting for the Maple Leafs. The team seems primed to make some big moves and let loose of dead weight.
Just like almost every player of the Maple Leafs, Bernier’s future is up in the air.
*Update: According to TSN, the Leafs have filed for arbitration with Bernier*
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