L.A. Kings: Where Can They Turn If They Must Trade Jonathan Bernier?

The defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings are certainly free to hope that an extended offseason will somehow dissolve goalie Jonathan Bernier’s desire for a trade that nabbed headlines early this past summer.

Or they can brainstorm a backup plan (no pun intended) in case, after the NHL resumes normal business, Bernier rekindles trade interest and stokes it to the point where it is too impractical to sustain him in the Kings' dressing room.

Three options, each of a different variety, come readily to mind.

There is one homegrown candidate, one hypothetical import who would come at no cost beyond a cap hit and another one that would require something in return.

The 22-year-old Martin Jones, currently in his third season as the Manchester Monarchs' starter, could be ready after a full or partial AHL campaign with a generous sprinkling of NHL-caliber talent shooting at him. Regardless of what course the Kings take with him, he may inevitably be Jonathan Quick’s backup at some point within the next two seasons anyway.

With that said, it would be wiser to give Jones a sprinkling of full-fledged, authentic NHL game experience in the next season, whether that is in 2012-13 or 2013-14.

He has yet to dress for a single meaningful contest with the Kings. Therefore, he will be a masked man of mystery if he is promptly thrust into a role where he would be expected to assume roughly one-quarter of a regular-season workload—even in a shorter season.

All of this is to say nothing of what would happen if L.A. suddenly went with a Quick-Jones tandem, even in a shortened season, and its Conn Smythe winner were to endure a prolonged injury.

If Bernier cannot stick around to spell Quick when needed while Jones is phased in, the Kings can seek a short-term partnership with a veteran journeyman. Right now, capgeek.com has seven netminders listed as unrestricted free age...

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