Who's No. 1?
First... Wow...the response today has been completely overwhelming. Thank you so much. I should have noted that things will remain normal around here for the next week. I'll let everyone know exactly when the move is being made, and to where. Back to hockey!
Terry Murray has not officially said that Jonathan Quick will start the season opener next Saturday. Unofficially? Well...
``I think, on the issue of our No. 1 goalie, there's no question that Quick is our No. 1 guy at the start of the season,'' Murray said. ``He earned that with the way he played last year.''
So while Murray has not officially announced Quick as the opening night starter, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which that wouldn't happen. A better, more relevant question is, who will be the backup? Erik Ersberg or Jonathan Bernier? Murray isn't ready to reveal that answer yet either, but gave his strongest hint to date when I talked to him this morning.
``It's a very close call, because both have played well and both of them have looked good in training camp,'' Murray said. ``If you look at the way Bernier has developed, I have been very pleased, but for him to be able to continue to play, and play a lot -- meaning in Manchester -- that would be a good thing in my mind.''
Murray noted, however, that the decision is not entirely his. Meaning, of course, that Dean Lombardi's input will also factor heavily into the discussion. In the end, it probably makes sense to have Bernier in Manchester as the No. 1, at least at the start of the season. The Kings would need to watch him carefully, though, to make sure he stays mentally sharp and doesn't get ``down'' about the assignment, the way he did at the start of last season.
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
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.com.
I bet Hockeytown would love to have their hands on a guy like Bernier. That is quite a scary thought though!
love you rich!@
Quick did indeed earn it last season. He had good numbers, and I wasn't holding my breath every time the opposing team entered the offensive zone a'la Cloutier, Cechmanek, Brust, Burke, LaBarbara, Garon (to a lesser degree), Huet, and on and on. The only downside with Quick so far, is every game televised on a visiting team's network, the commentators can't help but make a quick pun.
For a team trying to make the playoffs, Bernier is going to be key because Quick may have a sophomore slump, or fade mid season. Hopefully Bernier doesn't take a possible "demotion" as a negative, use it to stay sharp!
Oh, I almost forgot....
Congrats on the new gig Rich!
Action,
Agreed and agreed! What's more, since we weren't holding our breath, the players in front of him probably weren't either. I have been playing hockey for the last 16 years. I've been on teams with a terrible goalie and I've been on teams with a great goalie. There is such an incredible difference. With a bad goalie you have to play such a tight and tentative style that it hampers your ability to play offense. With a good goalie, you know that you have the freedom to be a little creative and not worry that you're going to get scored on EVERY time. In short, it lets you play your game the way you want to play it. If Quick can build on last season, we'll have that for the first time since Potvin. And hopefully for the first time in more than one season in a row since Rogie!
rich...
take it all in and enjoy it...!
as for 'who's number 1'...?
i'd take ersberg over jb to start the season, but be ready to make a change if...:
1. ersberg struggles...
2. jb takes the assignment, matures and plays well in the interim...
contractually...it makes sense to send jb down...ersberg has earned the second spot...and his new deal...
good problems to have...(!)...
You can't kick Garon and Huet too badly. They've been solid since they left so it could have been that they were bit by the Kings horrible defense too.
I think Bernier needs to play a lot. Ersberg has to clear waivers (which he probably wouldn't) so it makes it clear that Bernier is going down. If Quick gets hurt don't be surprised to see Bernier start and Ersber still holds the bench duty though.
1st off: Congrats to you rich, I am ecstatic for you.
2nd: Dap to the Kings for recognizing your talents, and giving us fans what we deserve.
3rd: Rich, you have to be somewhat of a kings fan now, not just a cubbies fan.
Last, let Bernier play already, I know he will get more time in the A, but he is ready for the big club, they can share time with the majority going to JQ
Rich, congrats on the good news for you and for all Kings fans!
As to the goalie issue,I agree that Quck should start as the #1. However, if the team feels that Bernier is a better goalie right now than Ersberg, why should he go to Manchester? Shouldn't you want the best 2 goalies in the organization up with the big club? Even if the backup only plays 25% of the games for the Kings, if Bernier is judged to be better than Ersberg, then he gives the team the best chance of winning those games. He already had confidence issue from being sent down last year, why repeat that? His confidence would improve far more from playing in 25% or so of the Kings games than playing 90% of the games for a minor league team. Anyway, that's how I see it.
Bernier to Manch to play starter minutes...he's not very far away from the NHL, but when we bring him up, he needs to play regularly, not every 8 to 10 games and to this point Quick should play that many games before letting the back up start.
Ersberg on the other hand, is at a point in his development where he can sit for a few games and be okay. Much better as a back up.
Exciting and new. Congratulations Rich. I hope you see this as a promotion and that it leads to many more open doors of opportunity and insight. You've been my lifeline back to the L.A. Kings from Minnesota and I'll read your Kings stories wherever you may go.
Hooray for the Kings as well. I don't read the other NHL sites, but this is the first I've ever heard of team making a position like this.
I'm sure you'll have your doubters, but that will just keep you, and the team, on your toes.
Job well done.
LB--
Doesn't Ersberg have to clear waivers?
The fact that Ersberg has to clear waivers pretty much seals Bernier's fate to being assigned to Manchester. If Quick gets injured, we'd be stuck with 1 goalie. as there is no way Esberg clears the waiver wire. Way too risky to keep JB up with the big club
Even if Ersberg does not clear waivers, is he really irreplacable? The 3rd best goalie in an organization is an insurance policy...expected to play only in an emergency situation (granted the Kings have had some misfortune with goalie injuries in previous years). So if an emergency situation happens, would it really be that hard to find a goalie for short term purposes that is of similar abilities to Ersberg? I wouldn't think so. I really don't have anything against Ersberg, I think he's played all right when he had the chance, but if Bernier is ready, then it's time for Ersberg to move down the list to #3.
Wow. This is a very tricky situation that TM and DL have on their hands. I wonder if Atlanta would deal Kovalchuk straight up for either Quick or Bernier given that Kovalchuk is a UFA at the end of the year and Kings have the cap room.
LB,
have you been a kings fan for the past X amount of years? If so, then you have already answered your own question which said "So if an emergency situation happens, would it really be that hard to find a goalie for short term purposes that is of similar abilities to Ersberg?"
Ersberg is better than ALL of our STARTING goalies in recent years besides Quick, so you can only imagine how hard it would be to find a decent 3rd goalie. Plus, I'm not sure I want Bernier playing number 2 in LA 20 games a year as apposed to a full season in Manch. He needs to stay busy.
Ersberg would have to clear waivers to be sent down, and I would be surprised if somebody didn't pick him up; I would be even more surprised if Lombardi waived him rather than trading him. Of course, it's possible to keep three goalies, too; which I don't see as likely; but if DL wants to give Bernier a few games before sending him down, that's the way to do it. They're going to have to carry at least 7 d in order to be able to dress six with the SOD suspension, so that would mean 13 forwards, 7 d, three goalies. Could work as a short term thing.
Mostly likely, Bernier goes to Manchester. But unless he craps out down there, I think Ersberg is not long for the roster.
I don't think Bernier needs another year in Manchester. DL and TM will put him there but the logic doesn't fit. If we had a vet and Bernier we'd have him as the #2 behind the vet to gain experience but since we only have young guys we don't think that way. There isn't any rule saying you have to give Quick 60 games and the back up only 22. I think having Bernier as the #2 also pushes both of them with the competition and makes both better. Signing EE to a 2 year deal, still dumb.
Quisp makes a good point, no need to lose Ersberg for nothing, might as well trade him - would probably get a 3rd rounder or so.
Mike, it's possible that an injury will happen to one of Quick or Bernier, but to both and for a long time? Chances are small. I'd rather take that chance and get Bernier into NHL games. Guys like Manny Fernandez and others like that are out there and available if needed for an emergency signing.
I just don't see the point of Bernier playing in the AHL when he's ready to play for the big club and ready to gain NHL experience.
The last 2 years we've said Bernier needs to play and play a lot. Do we really need 3 years of this? DL will say 'yes' since he likes his goalies to do 2 years in the minors (the A). Time for Bernier to get NHL experience. I also don't think people will want EE. He's not that great, modest numbers. His biggest asset is his low salary, but what backup netminder doesn't have a low salary. I'd be happy with a 5th or 6th rounder for him. Look what Labs got.
Funny thing is: we'll be talking about this same thing next year since EE has a 2 year contract. Does anyone really see Quick or Bernier playing in the A next year? I don't.
54 -- EE's biggest asset is that he is able to perform at a high level without much work. Most Goalies need to play a couple of times a week to keep their rhythm. Yet, he can also be decent for a 10 game stretch. Very few pros can play at irregular intervals at a high level.
ersberg has to stay until jb is ready....when jb is ready....i mean...really, really ready....ersberg will be dealt...
it was one of d.l. smarter moves in signing ee to a very movable 2yr/1.5mil deal in the off season...now d.l. can afford to stay with the plan and give jb the much needed games he needs...
d.l. has already stated several times that he tends to leave prospects...especially goalies...longer in the minors so that the are chomping at the bit...
if all goes according to plan, jb should follow suit by the 40-game mark (or sooner, depending a lot on ee/jq) and be ready...more than ready...for his opportunity...
so i agree with all y'all that d.l. plays this one according to plan...
and if all goes according to plan...what would be a possible destination for ee...?
my guesses would be tampa, ottawa, the rangers (because they have to be considered by way of nhl rules), maybe even a contending team like pittsburgh or an upstart like carolina or even florida...
let's hope jb does his part to make this all posssible..