While a number of question marks continue to dog the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jonathan Bernier is firmly established as the club's No. 1 goaltender.
Bernier was excellent on most nights in 2014-15. He had never been a full-time NHL starter until last season, but the 25-year-old native of Laval, Quebec, developed into one of the league's best by the end of the season.
The Leafs haven't earned a Stanley Cup since 1967, but the Vezina Trophy drought is even longer. The last Maple Leafs goaltender to win the Vezina was Terry Sawchuk in 1964-65.
One of the highest hurdles facing Bernier in this pursuit is the fact that the Leafs have not been very strong defensively in the recent past.
It is a rare goalie that wins the Vezina while playing for a team that is as weak defensively as the Leafs were in 2013-14. The team gave up 3.10 goals per game in 2013-14—good for 26th in the NHL.
Despite the defensive shortcomings, Bernier's save percentage was .922 last season, which earned him the No. 5 ranking among NHL starters. For people who watched a lot of Leafs hockey, it should be clear that Bern ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by James Onusko
Is Jonathan Bernier a Potential Vezina Trophy Winner for Maple Leafs in 2014-15?
July 22nd, 2014 by James Onusko Leave a reply »
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