Jonathan Bernier's Career With Toronto Maple Leafs Hinges On Proving Himself in AHL

 

Jonathan Bernier has been sent down to the AHL to play with the Toronto Marlies and he must play perfectly to get back to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With no wins this season, Bernier has agreed to a 10-day conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies in order to regain his form. Since Bernier agreed to being assigned to the Marlies it means that he doesn’t have to go through waivers. Agreeing to the conditioning in the AHL is obviously a hard decision for Bernier as an NHL player, but it’s his best chance to regain his role with the Maple Leafs.

In nine games this season Bernier has posted an awful 3.28 goals against average and a .888 save percentage, which are both well below what was expected of him heading into this season. This has been his worst season in the NHL by far and it could get a lot worse if he can’t turn his game around with the Marlies.

The Marlies have five games within that 10 day span, so it’s likely that Bernier will get the start in most if not all of those games. The time that Bernier spends in the AHL will decide whether he has a future with the Maple Leafs, and if he doesn’t then he will soon be traded.

If Bernier can’t make it with the Marlies then his NHL career could also be in jeopardy because it would be hard for another team to find a reason to want Bernier when he’s making $4 million a season and has been terrible so far.

The best thing for Bernier to do is go to the Marlies with a good attitude and play every game as if it’s a playoff game. Only then will he show management and the coaching staff that he’s ready to compete at the NHL level again.