Goaltender Jonathan Bernier stretches alongside Kyle Clifford – Photo: D. Sheehan
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier Won’t Sulk Despite Trade Request
By Gann Matsuda | FrozenRoyalty.net
Although he has asked Lombardi to trade him to a team that could use him as a number one goaltender, Jonathan Bernier is not showing signs of disappointment, disillusionment, anger, or anything else that could have an adverse affect on his game.
Bernier played in Germany during the NHL lockout, and the experienced turned out to be a shot in the arm, so to speak.
“It was good,” Bernier said about his time in Germany. “I actually played in every game. I got that little passion back—going to the rink, and being happy to play hockey. I enjoyed [my stay in Germany]. I traveled, too. It was definitely a great experience for me. The Spengler Cup over Christmas was nice, too. I actually had a pretty busy first half [of what would’ve been the NHL season].”
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But even with a fresh perspective on his situation, he knows that it will likely still be a struggle to get starts in goal.
“It’s only a 48-game season, so anything can happen,” Bernier noted. “I know Sutter only likes to play with one goalie, so only the future will tell. Hopefully, I can play more often than I have in the last couple of years.”
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“This will be four months that’s really intense,” Bernier added. “Then, summer comes, and then, there’s another season. I just want to focus on this season. Whatever [might happen]—I can’t control that, so I’ll come here, enjoy every day, and have fun.”
“Every time I step in, I have to prove to, first of all, myself, that I can win some hockey games. But I also want to be a great teammate, and win for the guys in the room. That’s the most important thing.”
Last season was disappointing for Bernier, in that he played in just 16 games. But winning the Stanley Cup softened the blow, to say the least, in the best possible way.
“During the playoffs, it was kind of a sour [feeling] not to play one minute, but at the same time, when I looked at it over the summer, I’m pretty fortunate, at 24 [years old]—23 years old last year—that I have my name on the Stanley Cup,” he noted.&Ldquo; Some guys never [achieved] that, or they played 10-12 years before they got it, so I’m pretty fortunate that way.”
“I have to look at the positive things.”