Bernier ready to prove doubters wrong in familiar setting

Jonathan Bernier is in familiar territory.

Dealt to the Anaheim Ducks in an offseason trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bernier returns to Southern California, where he began his career with the rival Los Angeles Kings.

The 28-year-old, who tallied just 59 wins over three seasons in Toronto, sees it as a clean slate.

"I'm here to prove everyone wrong. I know I can be a good goalie in this league," he told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "I'm not putting any extra pressure, but I know at the end of the day that I've just got to do my thing every day."

Bernier isn't short on motivation, as he looks to rebound from a disastrous 2015-16 in which his team finished dead last and he was exiled to the minors.

As the netminder re-adjusts to his new old lifestyle, there will be at least one familiar face in Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, who was the Maple Leafs' bench boss during Bernier's first two years in Toronto, and believes he's still got plenty left in the tank.

"We think that he's a higher-level goaltender than what he's played in his previous experience in Toronto," Carlyle said. "He's a talented goaltender. We think that he can provide us with NHL-level goaltending and we think that the fit for him is right, right now, with the young goalie in Gibby."

Bernier is expected to play second fiddle to youngster John Gibson, but looks forward to the opportunity to re-establish himself as the high-profile goaltender who was drafted 11th overall in 2006.

"It doesn't matter how many games I'll play," he said. "I've just got to make sure I'm ready whenever I get the nod."