Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.lewistonhockey.com
- Name: Jonathan Bernier
- Position: G
- Catches: Left
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 177 lbs
- Birthdate: 1988-08-07
- Eligible for Draft: 2006
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Laval, Quebec
- Acquired: 1st round (11th overall), 2006
- Playing In: Pro
Jonathan Bernier
Prospect Grade: 8.0 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2005-06: With Halak graduating to the professional ranks last season, Lewiston was Bernier’s team, and he seized the starting role admirably, standing on his head on a regular basis, and helping a Lewiston squad that was lacking many of their star players from the previous season attain respectability, and garner a playoff spot. He elevated his play in the playoffs, facing lots of rubber and making many big stops, however, his Herculean effort alone was not enough to get Lewiston out of the first round. He will return as the team’s starting netminder next season.
2006-07: Bernier posted a record of 26-10-0, a 2.58 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage during the regular season. Bernier back-stopped Lewiston to the QMJHL championship where he started every game, finishing with a 16-1 record, a 2.34 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. There is little else for Bernier to accomplish in the QMJHL after leading the MAINEiacs to the title.
2007-08: Bernier began the season with Los Angeles after more than earning himself a chance at showing what he can do on the big stage. After a phenomenal NHL debut, Bernier was thrown to the wolves in the next three games as the defense in front of him could not find their own end of the ice with a map and a compass. Bernier struggled a bit upon returning to Lewiston, but turned things around towards the middle of the season to finish at or near the top in most goaltender categories in the QMJHL again. At the conclusion of Lewiston’s season, Bernier joined Manchester to finish out the season as the starter in net.
2008-09: Assigned to Manchester out of training camp, Bernier began the season slowly, eventually watching fellow prospect Jonathan Quick earn a promotion to Los Angeles ahead of him. By the middle of the AHL season, Bernier was back in control of the crease in Manchester. While never seeing the ice in Los Angeles due to Quick's stellar play, Bernier anchored Manchester for the duration of the season, posting respectable save percentage of .914 and goals-against average of 2.40.
Talent Analysis
Bernier is a hybrid stand-up and butterfly goaltender with great reflexes, is very quick moving from post-to-post with tremendous puck-handling skills around the net. He plays big in big games – except his performance in the 2006 CHL Top Prospects game, wherein the young goaltender allowed six goals on 31 shots in 32 minutes of work. He is occasionally prone to get agitated in net when facing intense traffic, but generally manages to keep a level head.
Future
Passed over for service in Los Angeles during the 2008-09 season by Jonathan Quick, Bernier will enter training camp with an opportunity to unseat Erik Ersberg as the back-up netminder for the Kings. There will be an open battle throughout the 2009-10 season between the three goaltenders for the two roster positions in Los Angeles. A return to Manchester is not out of the question and should not be looked upon as regression on the part of Bernier. If either Quick or Ersberg slip up, Bernier will be waiting in the wings.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: January, 20th 2010
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