Expectations, pressure and Mandela: Bernier's time in Toronto comes to a close
It was inevitable, but the Toronto Maple Leafs officially cut ties with Jonathan Bernier on Friday, shipping the 27-year-old goaltender to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional 2017 draft pick, thus ending a tumultuous three-year run in hockey's most critical market.
In June 2013, coming off their only glimpse of success in 10 seasons, Toronto acquired Bernier to fill an apparent need, though it was thought by many to be under control with James Reimer at the helm.
Regardless, former general manager Dave Nonis and company got their man, a backup netminder from the Los Angeles Kings, who they believed was poised to take the reins as an NHL starter.
Bernier's tenure with the Maple Leafs was never a perfect match, as many fans clung to Reimer, the hardworking underdog story that almost single-handedly carried Toronto to the second round of the 2013 playoffs.
Still, with Toronto's perennial woes seemingly in the rearview mirror, Bernier came in and made an impact, starting with a preseason brawl against then Buffalo Sabres keeper Ryan Miller.
Bernier ultimately won the starting gig in his first year as a Maple Leaf, starting 55 games and succeeding under Randy Carlyle, but the final chapter of his first season was a familiar one for Toronto - a late season meltdown knocked the Leafs from a playoff spot.
As the seasons wore on, the criticisms piled up. Bernier - and Reimer for that matter - became scapegoats for a team truly inept when it came to defensive play.
Bernier was put into the spotlight from Day 1, and the once-high expectations crashed suddenly. The constant pressure turned to nerves, and it translated to shaky on-ice results.
Over his time with Toronto, Bernier accumulated a 59-68-17 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.80 goals against average. Decent numbers for a goalie on a team that never finished better than sixth in the division during his time.
By the same token, any capabilities Bernier possessed as Toronto's goalie were overshadowed by his blunders in the crease, and frankly, there were a lot of them. Not to mention, mistaking Nelson Mandela for an athlete didn't help his reputation.
Last season, by many accounts, was Bernier's worst. Unlike Carlyle and Peter Horachek before him, Bernier never seemed to be the go-to-guy for new head coach Mike Babcock. His confidence disappeared, and his stats crumbled, so much so that he was sent to the Toronto Marlies for a conditioning stint.
When Toronto acquired Frederik Andersen from the Ducks in June, the writing was on the wall for Bernier, concluding Nonis' experiment from 2013.
Considering the drama that's swirled around the Maple Leafs over the past three seasons, it's tough to fairly evaluate Bernier's time in Toronto, but nevertheless, it's safe to say it was never a match made in heaven.