Bernier ready for `battle'
All six goalies in Kings camp -- Jonathan Bernier, Jean-Francois Berube, Erik Ersberg, Martin Jones, Jonathan Quick and Jeff Zatkoff -- are well regarded by coaches and management, so there's no shortage of competition among the players. It is presumed that Quick has the inside edge on the No. 1 job, based on his play last season, but Bernier will get a long look.
``I don't think anybody really knows what's coming up,'' Bernier said. ``We're in a big battle right now, and the best one is going to get the net.''
Bernier reiterated what he told me during the summer, which was that last season, while personally difficult, was a good learning experience for him.
``Last year was probably the hardest year of my career,'' Bernier said, ``but I learned a lot. I had a lot of ups and downs but I think it was really helpful.
``I think it was more (tough) mentally. I don't think it was physically. I got hurt early in camp (last year) and I was pretty upset. I thought I would get in a (preseason) game or two, and then I was disappointed when I got sent down. When Quick got called up, I was disappointed, but I just had to battle through it.''
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J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
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Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
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We'll see how this plays out but I'd like to see Bernier beat out Ersberg and have him up with Quick. Saying this we all know Dean likes to have his young goalies play 2 years in the minors - so we'll see.
I just got home. I left shortly after Bernier's group returned to the ice after their intermission. Bernier doesn't look ready based on today's performance.
He was letting little things get to him far too much. A few bad plays and positioning choices in the beginning wore him down mentally. The entire time he was showing great frustration with himself and it just impaired his playing.
Ersberg and Zatkoff looked real good and in control. I didn't pay enough attention to Jones to comment.
I'll have some photos to share shortly.
I love Bernier!
If Bernier can live up to the promise I would be fine with trading Quick. I would rather see Ersberg and Bernier than Quick and Bernier...
I'd rather see the best goalie in net. I LOVE our goalie situation...yes, a Kings fan just said that...