Goaltender Jonathan Bernier and the Leafs went into overtime on a new two-year contract and settled just under the wire of a salary arbitration decision for 2015-16.
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Assistant general manager Kyle Dubas was rather candid when he admitted that Kadri’s new one-year deal at $4.1 million opens the door to a larger, more expensive contract if the young centreman exceeds expectations next season.
Bernier, who turns 27 on August 7, is coming off of a rough season after posting a 21-28-7 record, 2.87 goals-against average and. The extra year will be one that Bernier could have used as an unrestricted free agent, starting next summer.
The Leafs are expected to go into their third straight season with Bernier and James Reimer as their goaltending tandem.
In 175 National Hockey League games with the Los Angeles Kings and Leafs, Bernier is 76-67-20 with a 2.63 GAA and. 916 save percentage. Lamoriello said Bernier didn’t have to “prove” anything but pointed to consistency as something the Leafs would like to see. I think the guys are excited to come back and guys are motivated with the new coaching staff ” Lou Lamoriello quotes ” It was good to hear what both parties had to say as far as Jonathan and where the team was at.
The Maple Leafs now have around $8.5 million in cap space with no RFAs remaining and thirteen forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders on the roster.
At this stage of the offseason it’s unlikely that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be able to pull off a deal for captain Dion Phaneuf.
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With such disparity between his first two seasons as a full-time starter, the 26-year-old nonetheless has fairly a bit to show.
