While all the focus is on the drama up in Vancouver, there’s another goaltender hoping to be traded in the very near future.
Following the Kings run to the Stanley Cup last spring, former first round pick Jonathan Bernier asked to be traded. GM Dean Lombardi spoke to several teams regarding Bernier, but the combination of not getting what he wanted along with Jonathan Quick’s back injury, led to the team putting a Bernier trade on the back burner.
For now Bernier is in a holding pattern, at least until Luongo gets moved. Sources close to Bernier tell me they believe he will eventually be traded but it’s unlikely to happen until after the Vancouver situation is resolved. Many believe Canucks GM Mike Gillis will trade Luongo sooner than later. Then again with the way Luongo is playing he might be better off keeping him for the time being.
With injuries to Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell word is Lombardi is searching for a top four D-man. He went after Wade Redden before the Blues snatched him up and you won’t find find too many teams willing to give up a top 4 D-man right now.
Los Angeles is almost exclusively relying on Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi on a nightly basis.
Lombardi has indicated to Bernier’s camp that he will give him a chance to play elsewhere. There is a sentimental attachment here as Bernier was the first draft pick Lombardi made as Kings GM in 2006. Still with that said, Bernier is the Kings only real major asset they’re willing to part with.
The Toronto maple leafs are certainly an option should they fail to land Luongo in a trade. Lombardi has indicated privately there’s a specific player on the Maple Leafs roster he wants in return for Bernier. While he won’t reveal who the player is, it’s safe to suggest Toronto isn’t willing to part with him, at least for now.
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