After a fantastic morning for Toronto Maple Leafs fans in Niagara Falls, things got a little bit better for everyone.
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they have traded last season’s starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional 2017 draft pick.
Last season Bernier played 38 games with the Maple Leafs last season with a .908 sv% and 2.88GAA. He also played four games for the Toronto Marlies, posting a .948sv% and 1.25GAA.
Bernier became expendable after the Leafs traded with Anaheim before the draft for Frederik Andersen, sending their 2016 30th overall pick and a 2017 second round pick back.
Benier stayed with the Leafs as he was owed a $2,000,000 bonus on July 1st, and according to James Mirtle this move is sending Bernier to Anaheim to complete the trade.
Jonathan Bernier traded to Anaheim for future considerations. Lou with no comment on salary retention. Will have backup before camp.
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) July 8, 2016
Two things pop up from Kristen’s tweet (and follow her she was killing it on twitter from dev camp):
- No comment doesn’t mean no retention.
- "Will have backup" implies to me, that there will be a new backup brought in as Bibeau and Sparks stay with the Marlies, but I could be wrong.
The Leafs have now cleared $4.15 million from their salary cap with this move.
Goodbye Bernier, looks like I was right, but a year early.
What do you think of the trade?
| Good deal no matter the return | 603 |
| Depends on the "future considerations" | 562 |
| meh | 244 |
| Hate it | 61 |