The Maple Leafs and goalie Jonathan Bernier went through a rigorous arbitration process to work out a new deal, but there are no ill-feelings from the netminder.
Bernier was offered a pay cut and heard some unflattering things in the process, but the two sides eventually agreed on a two-year deal reportedly worth $8.3 million.
Following the hearing, Bernier said he understood the negotiating process has its ups-and-downs, and that he said he harbors no bad feelings toward the Maple Leafs organization.
"There's obviously things they say that you don't want to hear, but at the same time I think you grow from those experiences," Bernier told the Maple Leafs website. "I won't be sour about it. I know it's part of the business."
The Maple Leafs reportedly offered Bernier a one-year $2.89 million contract, which is the minimum salary they could ask him to agree to, while the goaltender wanted $5.1 million after making $3.4 million during the 2014-15 campaign, according to NHL.com.
Bernier was serviceable in his second season in Toronto in 2014-15, but he also struggled with giving up soft goals from time to time.
Though they went through the arbitration process, the two sides were able to come to terms on a pact prior to the arbitrator's ruling.
"They're trying to get the best deal possible, we're trying to do the same on our side," Bernier said. "I'm just happy right now that we found a deal for the terms that we wanted."
Bernier's pact is just the latest piece of business in a busy offseason for Toronto that has seen the franchise undergo a major leadership overhaul in order to kick-in its rebuilding phase.
The Maple Leafs hired Mike Babcock to serve as the new head coach after he spent 10 years with the Red Wings, guiding Detroit to a Stanley Cup in 2008 and reaching the playoffs in each of his years behind the bench.
Lou Lamoriello then shockingly defected from the Devils after 28 years in New Jersey to join Toronto as its new general manager.
The team also underwent a major roster shakeup when top-scorer Phil Kessel was traded to the Penguins on July 1.
The Maple Leafs finished 15th in the Eastern Conference last season with a 30-44-8 mark and 68 points, missing the playoffs for the second straight season after being ousted in an infamous Game 7 collapse against the Bruins in the opening round of the postseason in 2012-13.
Bernier, 26, finished with a 21-28-7 record in the 2014-15 campaign with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
The Quebec native is 76-67-20 in 175 games spent between the Kings and Maple Leafs in his career with a 2.63 GAA and a .916 save percentage.
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