If you know, for certain, who the Kings are going to start in goal for Sunday’s preseason finale against Anaheim, you’re part of an elite group. Terry Murray won’t say. The goalies say they don’t know. The only thing known is that Jonathan Quick is expected to play the entire game Saturday in Las Vegas, leaving Sunday for Jonathan Bernier, Erik Ersberg or some combination thereof. Murray declined to announce his plans today, saying, “I still have to let the other goaltenders know who it’s going to be.”
The fact that Murray hasn’t outright committed to playing Ersberg in a game isn’t good news for Ersberg, given that Bernier already has 100 minutes of action in the preseason. Asked today about Ersberg, Murray indicated that he would use past performance (all seven of those starts from last season, apparently) as part of his decision process, given that Ersberg missed time during training camp with a hand injury.
MURRAY: “Injuries are hard. When you come in, as a player, and you’re looking to impress everyone in the organization with readiness and play, you basically have five games to show your stuff. When you’re missing two or three of them, it makes it pretty difficult. We have to refer back to how he has played in the past. To me, it looks that way. I still haven’t decided on the game in Anaheim. Maybe there is an opportunity there for half of the game. I really haven’t come to a conclusion on that yet. It’s a conversation I’m having with the goaltender coaches, and we’ll probably arrive at that tomorrow.”
Bye bye EE
[Reply]
I know Ersberg is probably the odd man out, but he did really seem to get the shaft in this whole deal. Both last year and this year.
Sorry dude.
[Reply]
Anjin Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@Gizmo,
Agreed about EE. The guy did everything he was asked last year and came into some really tough situations but in the end you have to do what’s going to win you games and that goes to Bernier.
I think Ersberg will find a backup slot with another NHL team because he deserves it.
[Reply]
puckbob Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
@Gizmo, we all knew Eric would be gone sooner or later. maybe it would be best for him if it was sooner. more time for opportunities y’know?
[Reply]
It’s the final preseason game of the year, and the first two games are back-to-back. TM knows that Quick would likely start in Vancouver, and the other would probably play in Calgary.
I think TM would want them both to play at least half of the game in Anaheim. He’d want Ersberg to get SOME action, but wants Bernier to be ready if needed next weekend in Canada.
I think everybody knows, and probably EE knows, that Bernier’s #2. It sucks, but there’s nothing Ersberg could do about it. Bernier has nothing left to prove in AHL, so to leave him down there would be a waste.
Ironically, the team that has had arguably the worst goaltending for that five-year period (Cechmanek, Cloutier, and the carousel of others) now has a great, young tandem. The Kings did ABSOLUTELY the right thing, every step of the way, with Bernier. Gave him that chance a couple years ago, realized he needed more seasoning, and sent him down. Let him get a great deal of work in the minors, not rushing him up too quickly. While Quick was a diamond in the rough, making it easier to just sit back and let Bernier develop, he’s the goaltender of the future. It’s almost a no-brainer to have him on the NHL roster, and sadly, it’s at Ersberg’s expense.
[Reply]
QuicksDaMan Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 6:54 pm
@Kevin Y, Bernier goaltender of the future? Quick gets called up in Dec ’08′ finishes season with a winning record on a losing record team. Then as a key member of a young team gets LA to playoffs. Quicks’ the man! Now and in the future!
[Reply]
All I hear is who is starting…??? But who is dressing as the back-up on Saturday? Or do both dress?
[Reply]
Ersberg and Drewiske for…?
[Reply]
USCG Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
@Stonewall, Probably a 2nd round pick.
[Reply]
KingFanMGM Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
@Stonewall, about all you can get from that trade would be a bag of pucks or conditional draft pick.
Ottawa might have some interest.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
@KingFanMGM, You mean like the condition pick that would have went to Columbus for Modin?
Just incase everyone forgot we got Modin for a conditional 7th round pick, the condition was if we won the Stanley Cup last year.
[Reply]
kororr Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
@Stonewall, kovalchuk? whaaaatattttt??? haha, but seriously add harrold and maybe we can get a pick?
[Reply]
This is starting to become quite dull. Everyone knows it’s Bernier and that EE isn’t on the squad. Why wait? Why keep EE in camp for the next week? Why give him 1/2 a game? Are the players going to have all this confidence in him this year that they didn’t have last year?
I almost feel like it’s my 4 year old kid that has a loose tooth and wants me to pull it out but keeps turning his head away at the last minute because he thinks it’s going to hurt – JUST PULL IT ALREADY!
[Reply]
puckbob Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
@54FIGHTING, good analagy dude
[Reply]
quisp Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
@54FIGHTING,
because there are 29 GMs who need to think that Ersberg will play this weekend, because if Ersberg doesn’t play, that means he’s either going to be traded or waived, and if that’s the case then Lombardi has no leverage whatsoever. he doesn’t have much leverage anyway, but as long as they pretend bernier may still go down to manchester, ersberg has slightly more value.
[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
@54FIGHTING,
Great analogy–anything having to do with losing teeth works for hockey every time!
Ersburg will probably fall out quietly and be swallowed off the waiver wire.
[Reply]
Don’t feel to sorry for the guy. He will leave the Kings and actually get to play. What sucks is, how many teams out there would EE be a better goalie on than what they have now, I can think of 4 off the top.
He’s been stuck at #2 here, just bad timing.
His time to show off was the end of last season when Quick was rightfully worn down. But he got screwed by TM, admited to playing Q too much.
And he’s in west coast hockey and the Kings.
Ever listen to HNiC or more Hockey Central, they will go days almost if not a week and not even mention a sentance about the Kings or California hockey.
Point being, no recognition.
Trade him to a team in the East, and he’ll be a starter in no time.
[Reply]
Why does Quick have to play the whole game on Saturday? It’s only a pre-season game, plus he won’t be playing again until Oct. 9th against Vancouver. Plenty of time for him to get rusty in between games.
Terry Murray’s handling of the Kings Goalies has been pretty sketchy since he’s been here. Who could forget Murray’s stubbornness in starting Jason LaBarbera the first ten games of the season two years ago. Then last year, he played Quick into submission where he had nothing left in the tank by the end of the season.
If Ersberg doesn’t fit into the Kings plans, then why do they keep jerking him around? They’re probably going to lose him on the waiver wire next week.
[Reply]
quisp Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
@Rainman,
because Quick let in 2 goals on 3 shots in the third period of his last start.
[Reply]
quisp Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
@Rainman,
you just answered your own question. they don’t want to waive him. they want to deal him.
[Reply]
I think the King’s promissed EE some ice time so he could get a job else where, but with the injury they no longer feel the obligation as it is more important to make sure Quick and Bernier are sharp prior to the start of the season.
EE … hope your luck gets better and thank you for all your efforts. You won’t hear a bad word from me about ya. Best of luck.
[Reply]
Whoever will be in net will beat the Ucks soundly.
[Reply]
How about EE to Phily? We have a decent working relation with them, and i see that there top golie is hurt for the first month or so. Get somewhere between a 3rd to 5th round pick for him, or someone in the AHL that might help us
[Reply]
Buster Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 6:05 am
@rich,
I’m almost afraid of what they might offer us after those last two duds we got.
[Reply]