JONATHAN BERNIER Notwithstanding James Reimer's 2 impressive starts in last 3 games, Jonathan Bernier is ensconced as the Toronto Maple Leaf's no. 1 goaltender this season as he had started 9 straight before that and 11 of the previous 12. Look for Bernier to get the lion's share of starts from here on out as the Leafs are playing great hockey and have won 5 in a row and find themselves just 3 points shy of top of  the Eastern Conference. Bernier was acquired at the end of the 2012-13 season for Ben Scrivens, Matt Frattin and a 2nd round pick. In his first season with the Maple Leafs, Bernier appeared in 55 games and posted a 26-19-7 record in his first full-time semi-starter status. Those were his most starts in a season since 2009-10 when he appeared in 58 games for the AHL Manchester Monarchs.  With a 2.70 GAA and a .922, there was some room for improvement but his being his first stint as a no. 1, his production wasn't so bad.  The young net minder did show flashes of brilliance but showed some inconsistency which is not uncommon for a young goalie. With a year's experience being a number 1 goaltender, Bernier came into camp with the upper hand over Reimer as the latter faltered down the stretch last season in Bernier's absence due to a lower-body injury, going 0-5-0. Bernier, still not completely healed, came back too soon and lost his first three games back before winning ad then reinjuring himself in the next start against Boston, placing him on the shelf for the remainder of the season on April 3rd. In the first few games of this season, it seemed that the two would platoon until someone, or Bernier, proved himself fit and worthy of the number 1 job. As noted above, it appears that Bernier has solidified himself as the number 1 with his recent string of victories and performance. With his latest run, Bernier has now started 21 games versus Reimer's 9, a clear indication that Bernier is the Leaf's go-to guy. POST MARKS: HOME AGAIN--With rookie G John Gibson getting injured and having a fairly inexperienced net minder in Frederik Andersen manning the mesh, the Anaheim Ducks thought it prudent to upgrade their goaltending as they try and stay atop the Western Conference. It was in Gibson's best interest to get playing time in the minors and it was prudent that the Ducks bring in someone with experience to spell the young Andersen and perhaps show him what it takes to be a Stanley Cup goaltender.  Welcome home Ilya Bryzgalov! Bryzgalov was signed ...

Frattin played in the season opener, but was a healthy scratch in the last five games. He gets back in the lineup on Saturday after Brandon Kozun injured his ankle on Friday. Frattin will play on the fourth line with Peter Holland and Richard Panik.

The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised everyone two years ago by making the playoffs and last year they surprised their fans who thought that they were pretty much a lock to return but fell a few points shy of the 8th and final playoff spot. During this past off-season the Leafs held steady except for signing a few role players to round out their forward lines by inking one-time Leaf Matt Frattin and also Mike Santorelli. The belief is that the existing core of forwards will improve and take that next step.  Gone is Nikolai Kulemin. The Leafs also kept their goaltending duo of Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer intact, both of whom should improve upon last season's numbers. GOALIES In what many believed was to be a 50-50 split in games started between Bernier and Reimer, it was Bernier who basically won over the starting job as he started in 49 of the 55 games he played in. In his first stint as a starter, Bernier posted a 26-19-7 record with a 2.69 GAA and a .923 SP.  Not great, but a better than Reimer's numbers of 3.29 and .911 respectively.  Expect Bernier to get the lion's share of starts this season.  There were rumors that Reimer would be traded but for now, he is a more than qualified backup to Bernier. DEFENSE There wasn't much change on defense during the summer except for the free-agent signing of former Dallas D-man Stephane Robidas. Robidas should bring more veteran presence to the blueline along with Dion Phaneuf. Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner, as well as Cody Franson, should give the best chances at production. There has been word that Gardiner will assume more of an offensive responsibility, and if that is the case and Rielly progresses, Franson's numbers could take a hit. With this defense corps, you probably would see high offensive production, but each of the top four could get approximately 40 points each. FORWARDS There is no doubt that Phil Kessel is the go-to guy on this squad. Kessel was on pace to surpass his best season high in points of 82 amassed in 2011-2012 but fell short because of a dry spell he hit towards the end of last season.  Expect his production to progress a little more, possibly into the 90's as he is hitting his prime.  IF you miss out on Kessel, don't let James van Riemsdyk slip too far as he is ready for another jump in points. Last season saw his point totals hit 61 with 30 goals.   I'm sure the Flyers are wishing they had him back now.  CenterTyler Bozak enjoyed having Kessel on his wing, so much so that ...

D'Amigo, 23, was acquired by Columbus along with a conditional seventh round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Matt Frattin on July 1. D'Amigo had 20 goals and 13 assists (33 points) in 51 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) last season. In 22 games with the Leafs, he had three points (1G / 2A). He possesses a strong two-way game, but is unlikely to crack the Blue Jackets' roster out of training camp.

Frattin was traded to the Kings in the Jonathan Bernier deal along with the second-round pick that is also heading to the Blue Jackets. He has two goals and four assists in 40 games with the Kings this season.

It is clearly obvious from this trade that GM Jarmo Kekalainen and the Columbus Blue Jackets have a specific plan in place for this franchise and area staying the course by developing their young talent and promoting from within. Marian Gaborik's health issues were probably the driving force behind this trade.  There is no doubt that Gaborik possesses enormous offensive skill, but what good is it for a young team when he can't stay on the ice. Now, if Gaborik can stay healthy and he can click with Anze Kopitar, this would give the Los Angeles Kings the goal scorer that they desperately need. There is no question from the net out with the Kings, but they did go through a drought right before the Olympic break.  They did score 6 goals in the first game back from the break, but it was obvious that they needed help in the scoring department.   Consider this a plus for the Kings, but LA fans will need to keep all their fingers and toes crossed for Gaborik to stay healthy. Columbus gets a young talent in Matt Frattin along with a 2nd round draft pick and a conditional 3rd round draft pick. Kekalainen is staying the course with acquiring young NHL talent that can contribute now and stockpiling draft picks to build the team from within.  Both teams win out on this trade for now.

Fratting has missed the last three games, but could return on Saturday. The Kings are off on Friday so they will have a morning skate where Frattin will be evaluated and a decision will be made then.

The New York Rangers had a good night in beating the Flyers 3-2 because of Center Derick Brassard who had two goals and looked good last night. Brassard came over to New York in the Marian Gaborik trade last year and has seemed very much in place in New York. He could score 60 points this year depending on the ice time he gets.  Don't forget about him late in your draft....Young forward Sean Courtier had a goal for Philadelphia, and he is probably off most poolies radar, but we have high expectations for him, and think he can score 65+ points this season....Steve Mason had 20 saves in goal, so watch this situation as he is competing with Ray Emery for the starter's job in Philadelphia. It should be a tough fight....Marcus Foligno had 2 goals last night for Buffalo against a Columbus split squad. At 22, Foligno has not yet established himself in the NHL but he has offensive talent, so he could be a real sleeper.  He once scored 13 points in 14 games in 2011-2012....Young Mikhail Grigorenko had a goal for Buffalo. Keep an eye on this kid because he has tremendous upside potential....The other Columbus squad beat Minnesota 3-1. Niklas Backstrom had only 7 saves in goal for the Wild while allowing all 3 goals. His performance will be critical to Minnesota this year....Forward Nino Niederreiter scored the only goal for the Wild on the power play, and he did not look bad. He was a tremendous bust for the Islanders but now has a new life in Minnesota.  He is only 20 years old....Corey Crawford was in midseason form in goal for Chicago as he stopped all 19 shots he faced, as the Blackhawks shut out Detroit....Patrick Sharp had a goal for Chicago and he should get 30+ goals this season. The guy is very dependable....Defenseman Dennis Wideman had two goals last night for Calgary in a split squad game against the Islanders, but please don't expect that to happen a lot as this team is most likely going to struggle this year. He is at best a late round draft pick....Forward Curtis Glencross had a goal and two assists. We view him as a marginal pick....Michael Grabner had a goal for New York and he has a lot of ability.  If he could only play with more consistency.... Kevin Poulin had 14 saves out of 16 shots for the Islanders and is fighting Nabokov for the starter's job in New York. We expect Nabokov to win this battle....In a split squad game Calgary beat the Islanders 4-2.  John Tavares and Matt Moulson both scored for New York. Expect them both to have big years...