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Let the Jonathan Bernier trade speculation begin

Jonathan Bernier

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier takes a drink during a timeout in the second period of an NHL hockey game agains the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

AP

We’ll kick it off with a story from Newsday, which reports the New York Islanders are “in the mix for Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier, according to several sources.”

The Isles make sense as a destination, given they’ve yet to re-sign 37-year-old Evgeni Nabokov, who’s not getting any younger and was less than stellar in the team’s first-round defeat to the Penguins.

Kevin Poulin, 23, and Anders Nilsson, 23, are also in the organization, but at this point, Bernier, 24, would be considered the better goaltending prospect.

Forward Nino Niederreiter is a possible trade chip the Isles could play, but will that be enough? According to Newsday, the Panthers, Leafs and Flyers should be in on Bernier as well, and “perhaps the Wild and Coyotes.”

Which brings us to this tweet from Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos:

We’re not sure what the Leafs would, or could, give up for Bernier -- at any rate, James Reimer wasn’t the problem in Toronto this season -- but if the Flyers are indeed in pursuit, expect to hear Sean Couturier’s name come up in speculation. (Granted, the Kings are already blessed with tremendous depth down the middle, but you can never really have enough of that.)

PS -- Bernier signed up with powerhouse agent Pat Brisson on Monday after firing his previous representative, Denis Maiorino.

Related:

Kings have reportedly talked to 10 teams about Bernier

What will the Isles do about their goaltending?

Will the Isles make a play for Luongo?