The Columbus Blue Jackets don't appear to be much closer to trading Rick Nash, but another deal may be in the works.
Beat writer Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported Friday that the Blue Jackets have inquired with the Los Angeles Kings about goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who has requested a trade as Jonathan Quick has established himself as the main man in the Kings' crease for the foreseeable future, having signed a 10-year contract extension worth $58 million.
The Kings' first-round pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft, Bernier went 5-6-2 last season as Quick's backup, posting a .909 save percentage and a 2.36 goals-against average. In 48 career NHL games, Bernier is 20-17-5 with a 2.50 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
Goaltending has been a focus area for Columbus in the offseason. The Blue Jackets traded three draft picks to Philadelphia on the day of last month's NHL Entry Draft in order to acquire Sergei Bobrovsky, and after the Blue Jackets gave up nearly three goals a game last season and saw their goalies post a combined save percentage of .903, it's clear that an upgrade is needed.
Columbus has the potential to be a quality defensive team, having acquired Jack Johnson and Nikita Nikitin during the 2011-12 season and adding them to a lineup that already includes Fedor Tyutin and James Wisniewski. They also grabbed a stud defenseman in last month's draft, selecting Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips at No. 2 overall. With the right goaltender laying the foundation between the pipes, the Blue Jackets could have some of the pieces they need to make their ascent out of the Central Division basement, where they've finished six of their 11 NHL seasons (including the last three).
That would be particularly true if Columbus general manager Scott Howson can get the kind of deal he's looking for in exchange for Nash. That's proven tough to do so far, with players like Logan Couture of the Sharks and Jeff Skinner of the Hurricanes off the table, but if there's a trade out there that makes Columbus better while sending Nash to greener pastures, Columbus' pastures could be in better shape before too long.
Would Bernier be a part of that? It's tough to say. Goaltenders are the hardest prospects in the sport to figure out, and at 23, the outlook isn't much clearer for Bernier than it was when the Kings took him 11th overall in 2006. If Columbus can land him, though, it could potentially be the start of something better in Columbus.
