Leafs @ Rangers - Nov. 15th, 7:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[ZBBM]

I think Bernier is the more talented goalie, but I'm starting to really think that the Leafs should be keeping Reimer around and seeing what kind of market there is for Bernier.

I don't know if Bernier is more talented but he is a better positional goalie than Reimer.  And, Bernier is certainly better than he's played this season; his confidence is a trainwreck at the moment.  Yet I think it's also clear that he's not "the answer" in net.

My reservation with Reimer is that he's more of a reaction-type goaltender, and they don't tend to age as well as positionally sound ones do.

 

[Redleaf]

I have no words for what has happened to Bernier. I remember him coming into his first camp as a Leaf, fighting Miller and just looking really confident and solid between the pipes that first season. Something bad has creeped in between the ears the past year or so. I can't pinpoint the the moment, but if I were to guess it would be the fallout last season when the whole team fell apart. He just hasn't found his groove for a long time now, and it's getting worse. They need to find someway of helping him out, or he'll basically be worthless to any team. Sad days for JB.

 

[L K]

Greg Millen criticized Kadri's shot selection as he showed a graphic where every single one of his shots came from the top of the circle or closer.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Babcock basically anointed Reimer after the game.

Bernier is going to be riding the pine for a while. One win in his last eighteen games 1-15-2 is an abysmal stretch.

It has to be a mental thing with him, but at a certain point they can't keep making excuses for him and if it goes much long he might not even be an NHL backup, never mind starter.

 

[Damian]

Does Bernier at least get an asterisk for the Rags win?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Greg Millen criticized Kadri's shot selection as he showed a graphic where every single one of his shots came from the top of the circle or closer.

I think it might be time to take Komarov off that top line. 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 11 games. Kadri's not doing any better during that stretch but it might not hurt to at least try and make a change. Even if it's just swapping a different grinder like Winnik in there. He's had success with Kadri in that past.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Greg Millen criticized Kadri's shot selection as he showed a graphic where every single one of his shots came from the top of the circle or closer.

I think it might be time to take Komarov off that top line. 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 11 games. Kadri's not doing any better during that stretch but it might not hurt to at least try and make a change. Even if it's just swapping a different grinder like Winnik in there. He's had success with Kadri in that past.

I wouldn't be particularly upset if they did, although the line has been consistently good possession wise despite Kadri's drought and I think Komarov has been good as the lunch pail guy.

If they were getting schooled in terms of possession I'd definitely be more inclined to try someone else on that line, but they've come this far already that they might not want to salt the earth just before harvest.

 

[Can8899]

I have no words for what has happened to Bernier. I remember him coming into his first camp as a Leaf, fighting Miller and just looking really confident and solid between the pipes that first season. Something bad has creeped in between the ears the past year or so. I can't pinpoint the the moment, but if I were to guess it would be the fallout last season when the whole team fell apart. He just hasn't found his groove for a long time now, and it's getting worse. They need to find someway of helping him out, or he'll basically be worthless to any team. Sad days for JB.

I'm not disagreeing with your assessment that something has creeped between the ears but he's been letting in soft goals since the day he arrived.  The first one that I recall was the icing vs. the Hurricanes that he knocked into his own net and that was Game 8 of his first season with the Leafs.

 

[herman]

I have no words for what has happened to Bernier. I remember him coming into his first camp as a Leaf, fighting Miller and just looking really confident and solid between the pipes that first season. Something bad has creeped in between the ears the past year or so. I can't pinpoint the the moment, but if I were to guess it would be the fallout last season when the whole team fell apart. He just hasn't found his groove for a long time now, and it's getting worse. They need to find someway of helping him out, or he'll basically be worthless to any team. Sad days for JB.

I'm not disagreeing with your assessment that something has creeped between the ears but he's been letting in soft goals since the day he arrived.  The first one that I recall was the icing vs. the Hurricanes that he knocked into his own net and that was Game 8 of his first season with the Leafs.

Classic Bernier.

[tweet]666068197121069059[/tweet]

 

[Highlander]

Vesa Bernier strikes again?he is the answer to our lottery dreams

 

[cabber24]

I have no words for what has happened to Bernier. I remember him coming into his first camp as a Leaf, fighting Miller and just looking really confident and solid between the pipes that first season. Something bad has creeped in between the ears the past year or so. I can't pinpoint the the moment, but if I were to guess it would be the fallout last season when the whole team fell apart. He just hasn't found his groove for a long time now, and it's getting worse. They need to find someway of helping him out, or he'll basically be worthless to any team. Sad days for JB.

I'm not disagreeing with your assessment that something has creeped between the ears but he's been letting in soft goals since the day he arrived.  The first one that I recall was the icing vs. the Hurricanes that he knocked into his own net and that was Game 8 of his first season with the Leafs.

Classic Bernier.

[tweet]666068197121069059[/tweet]

OMG, first time seeing that goal... You would think this might happen once in someone's career not as many times as it happens to Bernier. These long goals and first shot of the game goals are ridiculous. It doesn't define him but it's hard to forget. Do you think this guy will still be starter after his days with the Leafs?

 

[Highlander]

Good he has already made millions as he is probably headed for the unemployment line shortly

 

[ZBBM]

It's impossible to defend Bernier's play lately but all this burying him alive reaction is surely overstated.  The brain trust gave him a 2-year deal over the summer for a reason.  Yes, he will sit for a good long while and deserves to.  But his career is far from over.  This is a guy who is obviously fighting confidence problems.  In some ways he's in the same boat as Kadri. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

It's impossible to defend Bernier's play lately but all this burying him alive reaction is surely overstated.  The brain trust gave him a 2-year deal over the summer for a reason.  Yes, he will sit for a good long while and deserves to.  But his career is far from over.  This is a guy who is obviously fighting confidence problems.  In some ways he's in the same boat as Kadri.

It's been more than just a short blip though:

@mirtle 

Jonathan Bernier has seven wins and a .9025 save percentage in his last 40 games. That's a long time.

And I don't think he and Kadri are in the same boat.  Kadri doesn't look like he has confidence issues, he's playing some of the best hockey he's played in the NHL.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

It's impossible to defend Bernier's play lately but all this burying him alive reaction is surely overstated.  The brain trust gave him a 2-year deal over the summer for a reason.  Yes, he will sit for a good long while and deserves to.  But his career is far from over.  This is a guy who is obviously fighting confidence problems.  In some ways he's in the same boat as Kadri.

It's been more than just a short blip though:

@mirtle 

Jonathan Bernier has seven wins and a .9025 save percentage in his last 40 games. That's a long time.

And I don't think he and Kadri are in the same boat.  Kadri doesn't look like he has confidence issues, he's playing some of the best hockey he's played in the NHL.

I agree with Potvin here, very well put.

 

[L K]

His career certainly isn't over but I think the small chance that he would develop into the Leafs #1 guy is over and done with. 

 

[Can8899]

His career certainly isn't over but I think the small chance that he would develop into the Leafs #1 guy is over and done with.

Agreed.  He's lost the confidence of the coach and I would expect several of the players which is not a good combination. 

My guess is that he hangs around for this season and if things don't change the Leafs cut bait during the off season for whatever they can get.  If his play turns around perhaps he gets another shot next year but will almost certainly be the backup or in a 1A/1B situation like we have now.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It's been more than just a short blip though:

@mirtle 

Jonathan Bernier has seven wins and a .9025 save percentage in his last 40 games. That's a long time.

Your right in regards to Bernier but I mean look at how the whole fanbase has jumped on Reimer's bandwagon after just a "short blip" of good games. In the 39* games prior to Bernier getting injured Reimer only had 10 wins and a .9075 Sv%.

* The 4 this season and his 35 games last season, didn't feel like going back to 13/14 just to hit that 40 game mark.

And if you're looking at the same time frame that was used to get Bernier's 40 games (Dec. 31, 14) then Reimer has just 4 wins in 24 games and a .9042 Sv%. Basically the same numbers are Bernier's. Then Reimer got hot for a couple of weeks while Bernier was injured.

I'm not entirely sure what point I'm trying to make. All of these numbers would suggest that neither of these goalies are really likely to take us anywhere. Reimer's gone from zero to hero because of 2 weeks worth of play, and I'm happy for him because like I've said in the past I'm a big fan of the guy. But the people who are screaming for Reimer to be the undisputed number 1 and saying that Bernier shouldn't even be in the NHL because of a difference of 7 games are obviously overreacting.

 

[ZBBM]

It's impossible to defend Bernier's play lately but all this burying him alive reaction is surely overstated.  The brain trust gave him a 2-year deal over the summer for a reason.  Yes, he will sit for a good long while and deserves to.  But his career is far from over.  This is a guy who is obviously fighting confidence problems.  In some ways he's in the same boat as Kadri.

It's been more than just a short blip though:

@mirtle 

Jonathan Bernier has seven wins and a .9025 save percentage in his last 40 games. That's a long time.

And I don't think he and Kadri are in the same boat.  Kadri doesn't look like he has confidence issues, he's playing some of the best hockey he's played in the NHL.

He's in the same boat as Kadri in terms of not get rewarded for playing well more often than not.  Most of the game last night, and on other nights this season, Bernier was solid.  It's just that in his position one major mistake is enough to cost you the game.  You certainly can't weather two gaffes, as he turned in last night.

As for his save percentage over the last 40 games, 30+ were with last year's dog's breakfast of a team.  I don't hold that against him.

Again, not trying to defend his recent play.  I just think that writing him off is premature.

 

[ZBBM]

It's been more than just a short blip though:

@mirtle 

Jonathan Bernier has seven wins and a .9025 save percentage in his last 40 games. That's a long time.

Your right in regards to Bernier but I mean look at how the whole fanbase has jumped on Reimer's bandwagon after just a "short blip" of good games. In the 39* games prior to Bernier getting injured Reimer only had 10 wins and a .9075 Sv%.

* The 4 this season and his 35 games last season, didn't feel like going back to 13/14 just to hit that 40 game mark.

And if you're looking at the same time frame that was used to get Bernier's 40 games (Dec. 31, 14) then Reimer has just 4 wins in 24 games and a .9042 Sv%. Basically the same numbers are Bernier's. Then Reimer got hot for a couple of weeks while Bernier was injured.

I'm not entirely sure what point I'm trying to make. All of these numbers would suggest that neither of these goalies are really likely to take us anywhere. Reimer's gone from zero to hero because of 2 weeks worth of play, and I'm happy for him because like I've said in the past I'm a big fan of the guy. But the people who are screaming for Reimer to be the undisputed number 1 and saying that Bernier shouldn't even be in the NHL because of a difference of 7 games are obviously overreacting.

Better said than I just did.  The bolded is where I ultimately come down on this.