Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Bernier ready to seize opportunity to win Toronto starting job

Los Angeles Kings v Chicago Blackhawks - Game Two

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 02: Goaltender Jonathan Bernier #45 of the Los Angeles Kings makes a save in the third period of Game Two of the Western Conference Final against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center on June 2, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Kings 4-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Jonathan Bernier has always been a highly-touted young goalie. The problem he’s had is being stuck behind a guy who seized an opportunity to win and keep a starting job.

Now he’s a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and while James Reimer has been the No. 1 guy there the last two seasons, Bernier will get a shot to be the man there. He tells Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star he plans on taking advantage of it.

“I’ve been waiting for that, to get my chance,” Bernier said. “It was very frustrating. That’s hockey, When you get your chance, you’ve got to take it. That’s what happened with Jonathan Quick.”

The Leafs haven’t said one way or the other about what the situation will be in goal, but given their acquisition of Bernier and previous chase of Roberto Luongo, you have to assume there’ll be competition to be the starter.

If you thought goaltending was already a strength for the Leafs, they might be swimming in riches now.