Goaltending Showdown - Reimer vs. Bernier

[ZBBM]

Bernier is resigned to believing he's in a good spot here in Toronto.

I believe I'm in the minority here when I say I'm not convinced he will take Reimer's job away from him.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/bernier-stays-cool-despite-heat-of-leafs-training-camp/article14324582/?cmpid=rss1&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#dashboard/follows/

I agree. You are in the minority. 

So is the majority starting to waiver a bit this morning, or still status quo?

God help me for citing Ken Campbell as an authority, but he did make the unassailable point that you don't go out and get another goalie and then pay him nearly 3M if you think what you've got is the answer.  They will give Bernier every chance to win the principal starter's job.

What you are asking, though, is will he?  I wouldn't make a judgment based on preseason games, so the boring response is that there's no way to intelligently speculate, much less know, just yet.

 

[Redleaf]

Bernier is resigned to believing he's in a good spot here in Toronto.

I believe I'm in the minority here when I say I'm not convinced he will take Reimer's job away from him.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/bernier-stays-cool-despite-heat-of-leafs-training-camp/article14324582/?cmpid=rss1&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#dashboard/follows/

I agree. You are in the minority. 

So is the majority starting to waiver a bit this morning, or still status quo?

God help me for citing Ken Campbell as an authority, but he did make the unassailable point that you don't go out and get another goalie and then pay him nearly 3M if you think what you've got is the answer.  They will give Bernier every chance to win the principal starter's job.

What you are asking, though, is will he?  I wouldn't make a judgment based on preseason games, so the boring response is that there's no way to intelligently speculate, much less know, just yet.

I agree. Yet so many of the fans and media have already handed him the reigns, which as we both know, is being pretty presumptuous, basing it on his salary and all.

 

[Kin]

God help me for citing Ken Campbell as an authority, but he did make the unassailable point that you don't go out and get another goalie and then pay him nearly 3M if you think what you've got is the answer.  They will give Bernier every chance to win the principal starter's job.

I think it's probably fair to look at the acquisition of Bernier as a sign that there are still questions concerning Reimer(and health seems like a fair one) but I don't necessarily see that that automatically follows to the idea that the team is leaning towards one or the other. Provided that you don't have the luxury of someone like Lundqvist or Quick having two good goalies is just smart regardless of which one you favour.

 

[drummond]

God help me for citing Ken Campbell as an authority, but he did make the unassailable point that you don't go out and get another goalie and then pay him nearly 3M if you think what you've got is the answer.  They will give Bernier every chance to win the principal starter's job.

I think it's probably fair to look at the acquisition of Bernier as a sign that there are still questions concerning Reimer(and health seems like a fair one) but I don't necessarily see that that automatically follows to the idea that the team is leaning towards one or the other. Provided that you don't have the luxury of someone like Lundqvist or Quick having two good goalies is just smart regardless of which one you favour.

This Leafs team must perform, the expectations are high and new management expects the results. Reimer has several flaws (rebound control comes to my mind first) but the team with him in the net is winning. (The team is somehow comfortable with him in the net, there must be some chemistry, btw. why do you think Bernier fought Miller, to earn respect, to bond with the team.) Bernier seems to be more flawless but he did not exactely outperform Reimer yet.

Another aspect is that Reimer is apparently at his best when facing 40+ shots and the preseason sofar showed us that the Leafs will continue to be outshot by a fair margin. Bernier for that matter is not used to face so many shots every single night.

My point is that regardless of the contract value the team will go with a goalie who wins. Simpe as that. I am quite confident that Reims (if healthy) will play more games than Bernier.

But I like bringing Bernier. Reims has never played 60+ games and it is not unreasonable to expect that he may get injured again. With Bernier the Leafs know that they have more than a serviceable backup. I have not checked but I do expect lots of back-to-back games due to the Olympic brake. Having two capable goalies will come handy.

 

[Kessel Run]

I wonder who Carlyle goes with in game 1, Reimer who was better in the pre-season, or Bernier in his home town?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wonder who Carlyle goes with in game 1, Reimer who was better in the pre-season, or Bernier in his home town?

Starting the season with back to back games is really the perfect situation for Carlyle. Each goalie is going to start one, and there really shouldn't be that big of a deal made out of who gets which game (although a big deal will probably still be made). From there he's free to just play whoever he felt performed the best.

I do think Bernier gets Montreal and Reimer plays against Philly though.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I think the choice of who plays Game 3 at home on Saturday will ultimately be far more telling of anything than the choice of which guy starts Game 1 or Game 2, which will almost certainly be split between them one way or another.

 

[drummond]

I think the choice of who plays Game 3 at home on Saturday will ultimately be far more telling of anything than the choice of which guy starts Game 1 or Game 2, which will almost certainly be split between them one way or another.

I like Carlyle?s approach: the better goalie starts Game 3. Plain and simple. It is if one gets SO and the other gets pumelled with 6 goals. However, if both of them allow 2 goals and earn a win, than what? Or both allow 4 goals and both lose the game. Toronto media will have speculation harvest  8)

 

[Redleaf]

I think Reimer deserves to play tomorrow night. He got us to the playoffs and played better in training camp. Forget about who getting paid the most. Reims should get game one. Period.

 

[caver]

X 2

 

[Zee]

Based on preseason, Reimer should start tomorrow, Bernier on Wednesday.  Given how they brought Bernier in though, I could totally see him starting tomorrow.  Also, Bernier is from Laval and starting against Montreal in the season opener would probably mean a lot more to him, no disrespect to Reimer.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Based on preseason, Reimer should start tomorrow, Bernier on Wednesday.  Given how they brought Bernier in though, I could totally see him starting tomorrow.  Also, Bernier is from Laval and starting against Montreal in the season opener would probably mean a lot more to him, no disrespect to Reimer.

Reimer says he doesn't care! Nobody is taking the net from him, so knuckles will have to wait his turn.

 

[Zee]

Based on preseason, Reimer should start tomorrow, Bernier on Wednesday.  Given how they brought Bernier in though, I could totally see him starting tomorrow.  Also, Bernier is from Laval and starting against Montreal in the season opener would probably mean a lot more to him, no disrespect to Reimer.

Reimer says he doesn't care! Nobody is taking the net from him, so knuckles will have to wait his turn.

You calling Carlyle Nobody? 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If Bowen is going to keep calling Bernier knuckles a dozen times a game I might have to jump back to team Reimer.

 

[bustaheims]

Reimer says he doesn't care! Nobody is taking the net from him, so knuckles will have to wait his turn.

No. Bad BWB. Bad.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

It's better than Ric-O-Chet!

 

[Highlander]

Why don't we just call him Nucky like Steve Buscemi's character in Boardwalk Empire?? Joe are you reading this???

 

[mr grieves]

Based on preseason, Reimer should start tomorrow, Bernier on Wednesday.  Given how they brought Bernier in though, I could totally see him starting tomorrow.  Also, Bernier is from Laval and starting against Montreal in the season opener would probably mean a lot more to him, no disrespect to Reimer.

I dunno. Reimer was lights out against Montreal last season. Gave up 5 goals in 3 games, .948 SV%.

 

[Redleaf]

James Reimer to start tonight. A good choice given his preseason and success last year.

Well deserved.

 

[freer]

That and he is 4 and 0 in Montreal, with a couple of shutouts.