Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager, Lou Lamoriello, holds a media call to discuss the signing and process behind Jonathan Bernier’s new two year contract.
Lance Hornby: On Friday, it looked like it would be down to an arbitrator’s decision. You made a deal before that came through. Can you take us through what happened?
Lou Lamoriello: First of all, in my opinion, the organization made the right decision with going to arbitration, so that – with the whole new coaching staff — there was no questions of who would be in training camp. Sometimes, even thought you give a qualifying offer and you have rights, it lingers on. Right now, everything is stable. As far as the arbitration, it has been a while since I’ve been to arbitration. They seem to get settled these days. I thought it was very good to hear exactly what both parties had to say, as far as Jonathan, but more importantly where the team was at. I met with Jonathan for the first time with Pat Brisson prior to the arbitration, prior to the hearing that morning. I had never met him myself. We had a nice talk, and then we spoke during, then briefly spoke after, and Pat and I have spoken over the last 24-36 hours. [We were] able to come up with a fair situation, in my opinion, for both Jonathan and the team.
Jonas Siegel: It’s Jonas from TSN. Just wondering – why did the two year term end up being the right choice for both the team and the player?
Lamoriello: Well, I think the reason is simplistic. With the changes, there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs, and sometimes steps are taken back to go forward. From the team’s perspective, [we’re] wanting to have Jonathan not worry about the second year, not worry about putting pressure on himself as far as how he performs if things are not going a certain way, and also giving him a foundation so that hopefully he has a year that pushes us – that is the organization – to speak to him next summer looking for long term. The thought process is trying to get a goaltender, and hopefully it’s Jonathan, to be the stabilizer for this franchise.
Siegel: Just to follow up — the two years kind of offers you an evaluation period to determine if he can be that guy for you?
Lamoriello: If that’s the way you want to look at it, I think that’s one way of looking at it. The mental aspect from any player, playing out his last year, depending upon his situation – especially when a team has not had success; you remember when a team has success, every player on that team is comfortable going forward. When a team doesn’t have success, everybody takes the brunt of it. Everybody is the reason why it didn’t have success. Right now, I think what we’re trying to do is get everybody feeling like the past is in the past, but subconsciously it’s going to be there. Having that one year is both good for Jonathan and the organization, whether it’s the organization evaluating or whether it is Jonathan ‘proving.’ Whatever way you want to look at it, there’s no pressure on just one year.
Stephen Whyno: You just mentioned “proving.” I know you don’t know Jonathan personally, and you’ve had your own team to worry about, but from what you know about him – what does he have to prove as a starting goalie in the NHL?Lamoriello: First of all, I don’t like the word proving. He is a National Hockey League goalie. He doesn’t have to prove anything. I think what we have to do, collectively, is get everybody doing what they are capable of doing together. The goaltender, yes, he can steal games at different times, but if you don’t have everybody doing what they’re supposed to be doing – whether it be the forwards, the defencemen, the goalies – the goalie takes the brunt of it. Like the pitcher in baseball, if there’s not good defence behind him, he’s in trouble. He might have people hitting ground balls to get them out, or fly balls, but they don’t get it. I think the proving end of it is not in my vocabulary. It’s just a consistency along with the team, and then all of us feeling good about it. He has the ability, no question. I’ve seen Jonathan long enough — we’ve played against him — so I have no problem there. It’s just getting everybody going, including Jonathan.
Hornby: The follow up to that question – You were obviously blessed with some great goaltending in New Jersey. You haven’t been in Toronto for a long time, but what’s your feeling at this point going into next season with both Jonathan and James Reimer?
Lamoriello: I’m going in [like] they’re the best in the League right now. I think that, right now, I have a total open mind. Certainly I know Mike has the same. These are our goaltenders, these are people are people we believe in, and now we just have to go out there and give every support mechanism to have the success that’s needed. Coming in, I feel very comfortable.
Unknown reporter: You mentioned in the beginning that you haven’t been in arbitration hearing in a while. Why is it, nowadays? Last year, I don’t think anyone went to arbitration. It just doesn’t seem to happen the way it used to.
Lamoriello: I think that it’s very simple. I think that because of the new CBA, with the way some of these contracts are given – with reference to being on potential and the comparables – really puts the teams on a disadvantage because you go in there and it’s a statistically-oriented situation. As a result, I think it’s basically one sided.
Unknown: Was this year, for you, much different in terms of the statistical aspect of it?
Lamoriello: I think the interesting part for me, for this one, was how mild it was. I think that what transpired in past days – you got into the type of player; you get into things that nobody wanted to hear. I can remember some. This was very mild. I think both parties were very respectful of each other. I thought they handled it very well. I thought Jonathan was outstanding in the arbitration, the way some of the things [were said] and when they were said, and how he received them. It’s not like it was, let’s put it that way.
