Back from minors, Leafs’ Bernier gets another ‘opportunity'
by Ian Shantz, Toronto Sun
Fifteen minutes before the players were scheduled to hit the ice at the MasterCard Centre Monday, the scene looked like some sort of terrible Maple Leafs joke.
Three goalies were on the ice, accompanied by a goalie coach — and two mannequins on skates.
There was James Reimer, felled by a groin injury that will likely keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future, though he has not been placed on injured reserve. And there was Garret Sparks, the Marlies callup who has filled in admirably on what has been a packed Leafs’ goalie carousel of late. Of course, Jonathan Bernier was there, too, back from a successful AHL conditioning stint he and the Leafs hope translates into something of value at the NHL level.
Reimer departed before full practice got underway, but Sparks and Bernier stuck around.
Afterwards, Mike Babcock announced he has made his decision as the Leafs get back to business Tuesday following a scheduling oddity that has seen the squad without a game to play over the past week.
Bernier: Here’s your second chance. Again.
“He’ll start tomorrow and give himself an opportunity,” Babcock said. “That’s what it’s all about, obviously. We need everyone playing the best they can. Here’s your opportunity.”
With the Tampa Bay Lightning in town to trigger the start of three consecutive home games this week, the Leafs have determined the best course of action is to give Bernier his first NHL start since Nov. 28.
It’s the safe choice, if only from the standpoint that it allows maintenance of a healthy relationship between goalie, coach and team as a whole. The Laval, Que., native recorded three shutouts in the AHL before struggling in his final start, so his confidence is better for the experience. Putting the 27-year-old back in an NHL crease as soon as possible provides him the chance to keep the positive vibes rolling.
If anything, Bernier, who has yet to register a win in nine games with the rebuilding Leafs this season, needs to know his team — and coach — are keeping their faith in him.
On Monday, Bernier acknowledged his time on the farm was eye-opening, enjoyable and rewarding physically and mentally. It was the reset button he needed to hit.
“When you come back up, you just have to say to yourself that it’s still just hockey,” Bernier said of his mindset coming off his first practice with the Leafs, having started the previous day with the Marlies. “I just want to play better for the guys, that’s the bottom line. Win or lose, I just want to play my game and I know I can make a difference in this locker room and on the ice.”
Of course, the argument could be made that Bernier has done little to earn a start, and should he falter against Steven Stamkos and Co., all bets are off on the former No. 1’s future in Toronto.
In the same breath, Sparks’ play has not warranted a return to gate-opener status. With the 22-year-old Sparks in the crease, the Leafs, who have few wins this season, have a winning record. If the franchise intends on making the late-round 2011 draft pick part of its future, there is perhaps no time like the present to give the Chicago-area native an extended look, what with the Leafs not exactly expected to do any damage this season.
But Sparks isn’t signed to a multi-million dollar contract. So the Leafs can only bank on Bernier turning a corner and re-establishing himself as the top-level goalie he has shown flashes of throughout his career before the patience of his bosses runs out, not to mention a significant chunk of investment by the Leafs being put in jeopardy.
In essence, this just might be the most critical start of Bernier’s career.
“Our job as coaches is to maximize everyone’s skillset,” Babcock said. “In saying that, your obligation as a player is to make sure you’re ready to go mentally and physically. We’re in a competitive league. That’s the reality of the situation. There’s only 23 jobs and you’ve got to grab on to one of them ... you’ve got to hang on to it. The ball’s in your court.”
Perhaps giving the nod to one of those practice mannequins would have been an easier decision for Babcock, who along with the Leafs’ upper brass will be watching Bernier’s performance closely.
