Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Bernier announced his retirement from the NHL at the age of 35.
Bernier missed all of 2022-23 after hip surgery on Jan. 4, 2022. He last played with the New Jersey Devils during the 2021-22 season, recording a 4-4-1 record as part of a goaltending carousel that saw seven goalies make an appearance.
Drafted 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2006, Bernier made his NHL debut two seasons later. He would go on to be Manchester’s starter during the 2008-09 season, making his mark as one of the best young keepers in the game. He’d go 3-0 with a shutout with LA the following year, which also saw him record a league-best nine shutouts in advance of the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s top goaltender.
Quick would share the net with Jonathan Quick over the next three seasons, including a Stanley Cup in 2012. He was traded to Toronto in 2013 in an attempt to get more playing time, and would serve as the No. 1 for the next two seasons. Bernier struggled in 2015-16 and would go to Anaheim the following year, starting a trend that saw him bounce around for a few years. He had some good runs in Colorado and Detroit, establishing himself as a strong 1B for most of his career.
Internationally, Bernier won gold at the 2008 world juniors and the 2012 Spengler Cup with Canada. Bernier wraps up his career with an NHL record of 165-163-40 through 404 games in 14 seasons. Bernier also had a 57-43-15 record with 17 shutouts over four AHL campaigns, making himself one of the best minor league goalies during his tenure.
Bernier is the second goaltender and ninth player to retire from the NHL since June 30. Thomas Greiss hung up the pads on July 12, and David Krejci was the last skater to call it a career after calling it quits last week.
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