Bernier comeback?

I'm wondering if Hexy and Dean might have said something to Bernier about picking it up so he could become the backup in LA. Would make sense as lots of teams need goaltending and Ersberg could bring us a good return and it would give him a chance to play somehwere (He truly deserves it).

Just a thought...Glad JB is picking it up and seemingly breaking through the mental games.

I had no doubt in my mind. He should already be a backup for Quick. Giving starts to an older guy that's not part of this teams future is a waste of time.

I like Ersberg, but the kids need to take control of the team. Now.

Bring up Bernier to be the backup just makes no sense. The kid needs to play as much as he can.
Let's see if he can spark a playoff race there and then fight for the job again next year.

Bernier never left!

Quick was putting same numbers as Bernier in the AHL and look at him in the NHL. Bernier is ready to be a King!

If the Kings let Ersberg go you all know it will be like Legacy or Huet; he will turn out a solid career. I say keep Ersberg and for one more year let him and Quick have a go next year and let Bernier develop into the star he can be.

I agree with the Cry Baby....Let Bernier develop one more year playing 85% of the games in the minors, with Quick and Ersberg handling the Kings.

If it wasn't for Labarbera's poor performance at the start of the season, the Kings would be in a playoff spot right now.

Why doesn't it make sense? We have plenty of kids that can take his spot. I don't get why you guys don't get it. He needs to play up here. Give him 5 games with Quick. Split them, start him, whatever.

You say next season..

The issue with that is, what do we do then? Quick, Ersberg, JB, and maybe some others tryout. They all do well. What do you do then? You can't leave JB in Manchester forever. Someone has to be dealt. Does Dean want to deal with this issue then? I doubt it. I'd think he'd want to deal with it in the offseason.

My overall point is, you're looking for a "magical" overlap, in hopes that none of these guys get dealt. I'm sorry guys, but it's just not a realistic view.

Dean had this same issue in SJ. Who's there now? What team does Kipper play for? Wheres Toskala now?

If I'm not mistaken, Ersberg will be a free agent, and can/will go anywhere he wants (or anywhere wanted).

Odds are, he won't be back regardless...would you when getting pushed from behind by both Quick and Bernier? I wouldn't when I can get paid elsewhere, and probably get a gauranteed starting job (Ottawa for instance).

You trade Ersberg now while you can still get something for him.

mrbrett -

I think there's a chance DL wants to sign EE to an extension, just to keep his options open for another year. But I agree with you. I would deal him if there's a market for him. If only because I don't think DL will be the highest bidder on EE's services, if it gets past 7/1 without a contract.

Yes, some of our sloppy seconds became great FOR OTHER TEAMS with OTHER SYSTEMS. Legacy is in the minors now. Huet is getting paid 5.625 mil a year to SUCK. Garon isn't doing to well these days. Fukufuji is a career ECHL guy (Sorry, couldn't resist, had to mention him for the Condor fan that comes here).

It's true we've had throwaways that went on to succeed, but they would have FAILED in our system. EE isn't in that situation, his is one where he would flourish here, but he's the old guy in a sea of young, comprable talent that is ready to take control. I think EE would become a legacy type goalie if he goes to the right team. He deserves that chance. I don't want to see the little stoic go, but he deserves to have a chance to start somewhere that needs goalie help. (Looks like) we finally don't.

*Trade Bait*

Bernier backing up Quick is the worst idea I've ever heard.

Bernier needs to be PLAYING HOCKEY. Not watching from the bench.

I'd rather friggin Steve Valiquette BACKUP Quick instead of Bernier...

Thanks, Cynic, for remembering me...

Gotta agree with Quisp/ Ersberg is trade bait...

The only thing is: You want your young goalies to be playing as a #1 goalie in a playoff push, if possible. Win or lose, Quick is up with the Kings, Bernier may get Manchester into the AHL playoffs, and Zatkoff will be with the Reign in the ECHL playoffs. So, trade Ersberg, who is the NHL backup?

Assuming Kings miss the playoffs and EE doesn't resign. Goaltending would look something like this in real ranking:

Quick
Bernier
Zatkoff
Rowat
Jones

We have a good problem to deal with. On D I would like to see something like this

Doughty-Johnson
Quincey-Komaserik
Greene-Hickey
Voynov/Drewskie/Martinez

...Oh, and one other comment (if Rich lets me)...

Fukufuji won again yesterday in a 4-3 comeback against the Las Vegas Wranglers, stopping all five shots in a shootout to seal the win (my pic below):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameraguy105c10/3324480354/in/set-72157614623689067/

Condors' comeback from 12-24-6 to playoff contention continues; now 24-28-7...

Keep Bernier in Manchester and let him play. How many games do you think he'd play here if called up, 5-7? In Manchester, he'll get the majority of the starts and possible playoff experience.

Keep him in Manchester to keep getting the same experience he'll keep getting if he plays in Manchester if he stays in Manchester to keep playing games in Manchester he'll...

We gave Quick a shot, and look what he's done. I keep hearing lets keep Bernier in Manchester, but again, he CAN'T stay there forever. The longer he stays, the older he gets, the less NHL experience he gets, etc etc etc......

If we re-sign Ersberg, that's less cash we have available for the rest of the signings. I want him to stay, but I don't want JB to rot in Manchester.

Manchester experience=NOT NHL experience. He needs to come up here and play with Quick. A few lousy games last season with our terrible defense did nothing for him.

No, he doesn't get 5-7 starts. He gets to play along side Quick the rest of THIS season. Eating the rest of the season in games would be worth a year of his entry level contract; the experience would prove to be invaluable to him.

In hindsight, should we send Quick back to Manchester, knowing how well he's performed? You have to take chances to get anywhere.

Hockey Jesus, re goalie rankings:

Bernier
Quick
Zatkoff
Jones
Rowat
Taylor

@ Quisp. Thanks! I knew I was forgetting someone.

Not a big market for trading goalies in the NHL at this time. Burke could not trade Bryz and had to put him on waivers and Hawks could not move Khabby who has won a cup. Good luck getting a decent return on Ersberg
unless he is part of a package.

Yeah...
That Fukufuji's a モンスター !!!!

(go here to translate: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/ )

I was rootin' for him when he was here....I love an underdog.

Quisp,

Those rankings are about as meaningful as the college football preseason rankings.
Quick is our No. 1 for now, so I'd say that outranks Mr. Bernier.
Just like the Kings, lets let Jonny-B prove his mettle before we crown him.
I know you're just using the Prospect reports, but you gotta give Quickie his due.
We don't rank Marc Denis above Mason, or Jimmy Howard above even Conklin.

Of course, if some other team does, and wants him bad enough, he's TRADE BAIT!

Ersberg...

So you bring up Bernier to play 1 of every 8 games behind Quick? Bernier should stay in the minors learning the pro game and learning to be a leader so when he does make the jump to the NHL he is completely ready. He's only 20 years old, no need to rush.

I would like to see next year's lineup to look like this..

Frolov-Kopitar-Gaborik/Hossa/Havlat/Heatley
O'Sullivan-Stoll-Brown
Moller-Filppula-Simmonds/Simmonds
Richardson (Harrold)-Handzus-Lewis/Simmonds

Call Ups: Moulson, Purcell, Azevedo

Doughty-Johnson
Quincey-Komisarek
Harrold/Voynov-Greene
Hickey

Quick
Bernier

What do you guys think?

no thanks to gaborik or havlat. the other two sound great though.

i really, really want us to go after chris neil or mike grier, too, though.

Have any of you who are annointing JB as the Next 1 ever seen Zatkoff play? I didn't think so, don't start annointing anyone #1 until camp is over next fall, as there may be some very big surprises in store.

Al/SummerHeights, re goalie rankings -

No question the "rankings" are virtually meaningless. I was really just adding Taylor to the list, and, as I cut-and-paste from my own personal little depth chart, Bernier is on the top of the list over Quick. I agree that Quick is the #1 right now, no question. If I had typed it out, I probably would have listed Quick first. And -- Al -- I'm not anointing, just listing prospects more or less in the order of their status. The full list has to include Ersberg, of course.

Quick
Ersberg
-----
Bernier
Zatkoff
Taylor
-----
Rowat
Jones

Is that better? And (again, to Al), I completely agree that Zatkoff or Jones could be the surprise(s) of camp, not that it would be much of a surprise in either case, given how well they've played (or so I've read). Bernier (as if he doesn't know this by now) needs to step it up. Like DL said, [paraphrase], first it's all hollywood parties and I'm in the show, now why am I on this bus all of the sudden. Ew, work!

Okay, that doesn't sound much like DL. But he sort of said that. And I agree with (my paraphrase of) him.

I give till Mid March when Kings games become insignificant. At least it will happen in March and not in December.

I love this team, but the reality is we have just finished laying the foundation and some of you are already talking about installing the 10th floor.

I have a weird feeling that DL has made a nice offer for Marek Svatos or Wojtek Wolski, and the package includes Erik Ersberg and Brian Boyle..

Speaking of laying the foundation, from nhl.com

Club # of Picks* Rounds of Picks
Anaheim 5 1,3,4,5,6
Atlanta 8 1,2,2,4,5,6,6,7
Boston 5 1,3,4,6,7
Buffalo 6 1,3,4,5,6,7
Calgary 6 1,2,4,5,6,7
Carolina 5 1,2,3,6,7
Chicago 7 1,2,3,4,5,7,7
Colorado 6 1,2,3,5,6,7
Columbus 8 1,2,3,4,4,5,6,7
Dallas 6 1,2,3,5,6,7
Detroit 6 1,2,3,5,6,7
Edmonton 8 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7
Florida 5 1,2,3,5,6
Los Angeles 14 1,2,2,3,4,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,7
Minnesota 7 1,4,4,4,5,6,7
Montreal 7 1,3,3,4,5,6,7
Nashville 12 1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4,5,5,7,7
New Jersey 8 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7
NY Islanders 9 1,1,2,2,2,3,4,5,6,7
NY Rangers 8 1,2,3,5,5,5,6,7
Ottawa 8 1,2,4,5,5,6,7
Philadelphia 7 1,3,3,5,6,6,7
Phoenix 7 1,2,3,4,4,6,7
Pittsburgh 8 1,2,3,3,4,5,6,7
San Jose 4 2,2,5,7
St. Louis 5 1,2,3,4,6
Tampa Bay 7 1,2,2,4,4,6,7
Toronto 5 1,3,5,6,7
Vancouver 6 1,2,3,4,5,6
Washington 7 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

okay guys, You want to trade Ersberg.
Quick is ok now, but what happens if his play is falling down? would You like to contend with two very-very young goalie? what if Bernier sucks that time also? You call up another younger goalie? for example Zatkoff? Do You remember the year when we have.. how many goalies? Cloutier, Garon, Brust, Burke, Fukufuji.. I'm pleased with Ersberg, he is like a veteran here :) and he isn't old also.

look at the Habs. with Price and Halak they falled down the standings.. they regain some power when Halak started to play. Not the next-coming-of-Roy-Price.

There are only a few goalie, that You can rely on a regular basis. Even Nabokov has bad games in a row.

I say keep the Iceberg, at least one more year.

Looks as if we have a 'full house' of Luc Robataille picks on the end of the deck of cards.

It'd be nicer to have a 'Full House' of Mario Lemieux picks like the Islanders have on the front of their deck.

Still not a bad set of cards....unless you're playing gin rummy.

"Ersberg said:

We gave Quick a shot, and look what he's done. I keep hearing lets keep Bernier in Manchester, but again, he CAN'T stay there forever. The longer he stays, the older he gets, the less NHL experience he gets, etc etc etc......

Manchester experience=NOT NHL experience. He needs to come up here and play with Quick. A few lousy games last season with our terrible defense did nothing for him.

No, he doesn't get 5-7 starts. He gets to play along side Quick the rest of THIS season. Eating the rest of the season in games would be worth a year of his entry level contract; the experience would prove to be invaluable to him.

In hindsight, should we send Quick back to Manchester, knowing how well he's performed? You have to take chances to get anywhere."

I'm sorry, Ersberg, but I have to completely disagree with your assessment. Bernier will NOT stay in Manchester forever. He's only been playing minor-pro for one full season, and he needs to stay down there right now because he should be playing as many games as possible. While I understand the urgency we all want for him to come up because of the hype, keep in mind he is only 20 years old. You're right, AHL experience is by no means NHL experience, but as many others here have stated, he needs to continue playing as many games as possible to continue developing. While we all know he is technically sound, he body has yet to endure a full season schedule playing at a different level. Plus he is learning the intangibles about being relied upon being the starting goaltender, and he'll only learn that if he is given that role each game.

In terms of your opinions on Quick, I'm trying to figure out your thoughts. It seems you aren't very confident in him, although you seem to forget that he has been carrying this team since being called up. Majority of these losses are due to a lack of offense. Quick is doing a great job in goal and is often keeping the team in games. The problem lies in the fact that we're not scoring. That's just the reality.

You can't really demote Quick back to the minors because these losses aren't completely his fault. The Kings struggles lie with inconsistent scoring. Defensively this team is solid (when compared to last year). You look at their goal's against and shots against and those numbers have improved.

But back to my point. Bernier's time will come. That's a fact. But we all need to keep in mind, Bernier is projected as a STARTER, not a backup. Therefore he needs to be treated as such regardless of where he is playing. This will help him mature and grow into that role when it's time to bring him up.

My take is keep the goalie situation the way it is for now. Ersberg should either be re-signed for another year or traded for a solid career backup goalie.

I forgot to mention that, for the record, I think Ersberg should be re-signed for another year and we use this current tandem for next year.

Trade Quick. His value increase was something of an unforeseen nature and we have someone with more value down the road in Bernier. Resign Ersberg and go with a Bernier and Ersberg tandem.
This recognizes a new free asset that we didn't have yesterday if we trade Quick. Package him in a deal that will allow us to gain a top 6 forward.
I personally feel that Ersberg is a better goalie and that Bernier will be better than Quick if he is not already.

Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough. If Ersberg doesn't re-sign by tomorrow night, he could be gone for nothing. Guess what happens then? Bernier gets a shot in camp again, and this time he will probably be up behind Quick.

You guys keep saying he needs to stay in Manchester, but there's one other problem that Dean won't like with that situation: He'll have to spend more money for him to stay in Manchester. Yes, money going to Ersberg or sign a UFA.

OCPiker-It doesn't matter that JB is 20 or 22 or even 19. There are guys all over the league that are up here that are younger. Case in point: Doughty. He can grow up here. I like Ersberg as well, but I'd rather the money go to a sniper.

Cry Baby-I believe I said he would start along side Quick, meaning split the games. No, not 1 out of 8. 1 for 1, or even more.

You guys need to remember Dean has to work within the cap structure. As of now, he still needs to lock up JJ, re-sign his other UFA's, including OD and Fro.

Letting Ersberg go and bringing up Bernier would save him some additional cash.

Al-JB or Jeff Z or Jones.

I would think that JB would have the best shot, since Dean and Terry have been using a seniority system. Does that mean any of those other guys won't get a shot? No, it's just seems JB has the highest probability of being the next guy.

I'm in agreement with Quisp, AK and some others that money can be better spent elsewhere.

You guys need to stop hating on Ersberg.. I agree with him completely on calling up Bernier, because like it or not, he's going to be wearing the Kings jersey next year. If Ersberg doesn't get dealt at the deadline, he will get dealt at the draft. Why don't we make Ersberg trade bait? You kind of have to weigh the pros and cons..

Will the Kings make the playoffs? If DL thinks so, then there's no way he wants to go into the post season with a Quick-Bernier duo..
.. On the other hand, if DL figures we'll miss the playoffs this year (which I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is what it seems like it'll be), why not trade Ersberg and let Bernier get a little bit of experience in the show? Manchester doesn't have a playoff spot anyways.

And you guys are all talking about how he (Bernier) needs playoff experience.. Look at Carey Price last year.. He took Montreal far in the playoffs, no? Look at Steve Mason.. He's carrying Columbus on his back.. Jonathan Bernier was projected to be a better goaltender then Steve Mason, lmao. Bernier was a 1st round pick, whereas Mason was a 3rd! Comes to show you that rankings don't mean anything..

Which ever path we go through, I know it'll be the right one, because in Dean we trust!

1) Next thing we have to do is lock up JMFJ and Frolov..
2) We need to get a 2nd line center and a 1st line winger.. (Filppula or Brad Boys & Svatos or Gaborik or Hossa or Havlat or Heatley)?
3) We need to sign another big dman in the off-season (Komisarek)
4) Demote Stoll to the 3rd line
5) Call up Lewis FULL TIME!!

Trade Handzus at the deadline and here's why.. Handzus' value is pretty high up right now. Everyone's taking notice of the little things he's been doing (PK specialist), and we're not 100% sure he'll play this well next year. Do any of us see Handzus in the Kings' future? No.. He's already given his 100% throughout the year, so why not deal him and maybe have him be apart of a package for a 2nd line center or a young prospect or maybe even a 1st line winger..?

Trade Calder, O'Donnell and a 4th to DET for Valtteri Filppula and a 3rd.

Trade Gauthier, or put him on waivers..

Trade Ersberg.. maybe put him in a package with Handzus and Brian Boyle?

Erik Ersberg, Michal Handzus, Brian Boyle and a 1st to Colorado for Marek Svatos or Wojtek Wolski.

One last note.. I love how Toronto only have 5 picks.. lmao, I hate the leafs..

I thought i posted this earlier but it didn't show up...

Trade Quick.
His value that was unforeseen two months ago can be used to address other issues (ie. forwards in a package deal)
We have Ersberg already that as good or better than Quick and we have Bernier Zatkoff and Taylor that could back up or start ahead of Ersberg if it plays out that way. I see no reason to keep all these goaltenders and to me it makes sense if we are to trade one, then we trade Quick

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I wrote that yesterday, and this is my first time back online since...

Anyway...DL may want to re-sign Ersberg, but that doesn't mean he will be able to. I honestly feel that someone like Ottawa, after trading away either Heatly or Spezza to free up cap space, along with a Neil or someone like that, will offer a guy like Ersberg 2 million/season for 3 years...are you going to give him that?

I wouldn't.

AK-

I agree with your trade proposals, but it appears we're keeping OD for experience.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-ducks-fyi3-2009mar03,0,7004393.story

It's probably a good idea, since he's affordable.

Crystal Ball disclosure:

Bernier's "comeback" is just in time to increase his value for the mega-trade this coming summer that will bring Sidney Crosby to the Kings.

Because the Penguins need to dump salary, and because the Kings have a rare group of prized, high % prospects to deal, we will be able to bring Crosby to LA by trading mainly prospects (albeit high-quality ones).

The trade will likely be something like:

O'Sullivan/Voinov/Hickey/Bernier/Boyle and a
2nd-round pick for
Crosby.

Possibly substitute Moller or Teubert (or a #1 pick)
for 1 of the above, but that is pretty much how the
trade will look.

Pitt needs to get younger/cheaper in order to continue to be a force in the East.

We need to solve our offensive chemistry problems to rise in the West.

Pitt has 2 mega-stars--They can't keep both and can't really have a great overall team with
so much payroll tied up in just 2 guys.

MALKIN will be the guy they keep.

Gretzky came here in summer,'88.

Look for CROSBY in summer,'09.

The trade will change the course of the NHL.

Look for the 2 teams to meet in the Cup
finals within 2-3 years.

-Sergei Prozacutov

The Ersberg situation will be complicated by the fact that, after Wednesday, Ersberg has a say in what happens to him. If EE thinks he has a chance of being an NHL #1 goalie, he will sign with a team that also thinks this and is willing to offer him a commensurately bigger paycheck. If DL thinks that Ersberg is really a back-up/insurance-policy goalie, then DL's offer will reflect that. DL has to know this, and will act accordingly. DL has probably had conversations with EE and his agent about their mutual expectations and whether or not he and EE are "on the same page." Since DL has not told us what his expectations are with Ersberg, it's hard to know how it's going to play out. Compare this to the Blake situation, where we heard a lot about "we want Rob back if he's willing to accept the role we want him to play." That was the first clue that it wasn't going to work out. In this case, we not only don't know what role DL wants EE to play, but we don't know how EE feels about it (it was always clear -- to me anyway -- that Blake was not going to accept a mentor back-seat role...).

It would cost the Penguins more money than they'd care to in losing Crosby. It's not the on ice performance they'd be missing as much as the off ice money, due to marketing losses.

Ovechkin, Crosby, Selanne..

Those names bring in HUGE revenue off the ice for their respective teams. There's just no monetary reason for the Penguins to move Crosby.

If Pitt traded one of them, it would be Malkin.

Another reason CROSBY may be coming here is JACK JOHNSON.

JJ and Crosby are best-buddies.

If we can sign JJ this summer, The Trade will follow almost immediately.

I believe Pitt will keep Malkin because he scores more & has less of an injury history.

-Sergei Prozacutov