Leafs Ship Bernier to Anaheim

To Anaheim	Pos	Age	GP	G/W	P	Years	Cap
Jonathan Bernier	G	27	38	12	30	1	$4.15 mil
----------------
To Toronto	Pos	Age	GP	G/W	P	Years	Cap
Conditional 2017 Draft Pick

The Toronto Maple Leafs answered a couple of questions heading into the 2017 season, the first being about their salary cap situation, where they were already looking to be above the ceiling and the second, who would be the likely starter on opening night, now that they have shipped Jonathan Bernier to the Anaheim Ducks for a draft pick.

Arguably, Bernier was the victim of circumstance, becoming the number one goalie of a team at the beginning of a rebuild and was hung out to dry in a market that dumps on their goalies, even in a time where they're not expected to win games.

The Anaheim Ducks, who lost the services of the Maple Leafs' new number one goalie, Frederik Andersen, now give themselves a little bit more support in the crease, as John Gibson gets prepared to take the mantle of the number one guy on the pond.  Bernier will give it a good fight and will certainly have a much better defense and system to play behind, which could make that goalie battle very interesting.

In terms of pool projections, Andersen's numbers will now increase, due to the increase in potential minutes to be played, while Gibson may take a bit of a tumble to more help, with Bernier possibly seeing an increase, thanks to playing behind a better team and still splitting time.

It's hard to believe that Bernier got a fair shake in Toronto and the impatience of the market was his ultimate downfall or the reason for this deal, at the end of the day.  I think he's a much better goalie than what the Leafs fans ever got to see, but that's the nature of the beast, I suppose.

As for the Ducks, I don't know what they're getting up to here.  I would think this is a little bit of a slap in the face of Gibson, who really has to ask what the play is here.  Did he really need this much competition to be a better number one guy?