WOOHOO! I figured they would wait until Lewiston went back home and had the farewell with their fans yesterday. Can't wait to see how he does with the Monarchs.

He told a local paper that he's heading there: http://www.sunjournal.com/story/259268-3/LocalSports/Maineiacs_bid_adieu/

This will be a good test for him. He played pretty well over the last part of the Q's season- defensive player of the month of march, consistently Lewiston's top star of the game throughout their playoff series. Now lets see what he can bring at the AHL level.

YES!!!!

So who starts in the playoffs:
Ersberg
Quick (whose been hot of late)
Bernier

When was the last time the Kings had to worry about who to start but in a positive way....

He'll PRACTICE with the team... Whether he sees actual game action is a whole 'nuther story.

Personally, I would like to see Quick and Ersberg in the playoffs. They've earned the right to steer that post-season ship. (And, I'll be there, so I'm excited.)

Ersberg can probably play in the World Championships for Sweden if he has been invited, so you let him do that and give the kids Quick and Bernier some AHL playoff experience.

My guess (Monarch fan and resident in Manch), Bernier and Ersberg swap starts while Quick goes to Reading.

As to who gets the actual start? Do you start the goalie with the most "professional" time in net or the goalie who's already had time in net during the playoffs?

I don't have a clue.

We have too many promising goalies in the system. This is a good thing.

I would hope Bernier gets the start in the playoffs.
Since he's the future of the Kings, wouldn't you like to see him get right in there and show what he can do? Who gives a sh** as far as who deserves to be in net? Its the friggin minors. The quicker he gets the experience, the quicker he'll be playing in net for the Kings....hopefully next year

and now the journey begins. just how good will he do ? Will he be the #1 on opening night come October ? Or does he stay down in the A for a year of seasoning ? I say unless he dominates the AHL playoffs he starts off the year in the AHL and we'll see him with the kings no later than December. Just my two cents.

Best thing i heard in a long time! Haha im so excited!

Even if Bernier doesn't get a whiff in the playoffs, exposing him to a playoff locker room is good experience for now.

They have to give him at least a couple games.

Montreal's Carey Price went straight from Juniors to the AHL, and carried his team to a championship.

WOA THERE! Let's back that cart up and put it back behind the horses there guys! The Monarchs haven't clinched anything yet.

Yeah, they've got a 5 point lead on Springfield, but the Falcons have a game in hand on the Monarchs.

What are they gonna do with Bernier if the Monarchs don't make the playoffs? Send him to Reading? That wouldn't be any more of a challenge then the Q.

Why don't the Kings bring him back up and let him finish the season in LA? Then if the Monarchs make the playoffs, send him down there. Makes perfect sense to me.

Then again, when have the Kings done anything sensible?

Paul - In this specific scenrio, I totally disagree with you. Goaltenders need to be brought along slowly, the last time Bernier played, he got shelled because our defense was terrible. The last two games for the Kings have been exactly that and poor Erberg has been the victim. Lets not toy with Bernier's development any further.

Send him to Manchester so he can play in front of a better D and in the playoffs (if they hold on), he'll have plenty of chances to play for the Kings next year.

@Dellanooch: It's 2 games, one of which is against San Jose's backup goalie (tonight), and the other probably will be too. Plus both San Jose and Anaheim will probably rest half their roster anyway.

There's still 3 games next week for Manchester, and then the playoffs if they get there. Plenty of time to get AHL playoff experience. Plus he'll probably spend all of next season down there.

Did you think it was bad for Jack Johnson to play the last 2 weeks for the Kings last year? It did nothing but help him improve his game.

These are professional hockey players. He may be young, but he's not THAT young. Stop treating these guys like little kids whose egos bruise easily.

Seems like NHL experience worked pretty well for Carey Price and Montreal, a goalie who is supposed to be on par with Bernier.

And for the record, if the Kings & Manchester were both going to the playoffs, I'd say let him play in the AHL. But it's just 2 games. NHL experience is always a good thing.

Bernier is not going to be worse for the wear if he played up here behind the kings D. He's dealt with losing seasons and getting lit up many times throughout his career. Some of you around here seem to think he's as fragile as glass.

That said, seeing as there are only 2 games left for the kings and the Monarchs are likely to make the playoffs, I think it makes more sense to send him there so that he has more time to get familiar with his teamates and the system they play there.

Paul- Price was sent to Hamilton at the end of last year, not montreal. He didn't get any NHL experience until this year.

My point about Price was that he's only 1 year older the Bernier, and not only did he play well enough to earn the starting job, he was so good they traded away their previous #1 guy. Goalies are tough. They can take the pressure, even at 19 years old. Plus, Bernier may have been the Kings best player in those games early this year.

Manchester will be there next week and hopefully on into the playoffs. It wouldn't have killed Bernier to get him 2 more games in LA.

Manchester is in the 2nd period of their game tonight, and Quick is in net. Bernier is the backup.