Handicapping the fates of the six junior-eligibles

After a promising start, Jonathan Bernier sprouted leaks and was given a ticket back to juniors by the Kings. Harry How/Getty Images

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Two weeks ago 19-year-old Jonathan Bernier was in London, England, backstopping the Los Angeles Kings to a convincing 4-1 victory over the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks.

Today he's riding a bus to Rouyn-Noranda, a small village on the banks of Osisko Lake in northwestern Quebec, where he hopes to help the Lewiston Maineiacs whip up on a bunch of no-name teenagers.

A hard fall? Maybe. But sending their top prospect back to juniors was the right move by the Kings, even if Bernier doesn't see it that way.

He may one day develop into the goaltending savior the Kings have lacked since Rogie Vachon tended the twine. But GM Dean Lombardi and coach Marc Crawford recognized that particular crown was a little too heavy for Bernier's head at this time, and returned the youngster this week to Lewiston after a four-game stint with the big club.

"We protected Jonathan Bernier," Crawford told the Los Angeles Times. "We're protecting [him] from an environment that is not conducive for younger players."

Translation: Despite a series of bold moves over the summer, the Kings remain a team in transition. The losses that are piling up as they try to discover their identity are much easier to handle for a seasoned veteran than a raw rookie.

The four starts Bernier got under his belt were invaluable in his development, but his struggles over the last three games demonstrated the vast divide between the NHL's pre- and regular seasons. Youngsters like Bernier may look like the bee's knee pads in September, but it's a different game in October.

Heading into the weekend, just six junior-eligible players remained on NHL rosters: Boston's Milan Lucic, Chicago's Patrick Kane, Edmonton's Sam Gagner, Minnesota's James Sheppard, Phoenix's Peter Mueller, and David Perron of the Blues.

Every one of them thinks he belongs in the NHL. None would have lasted this long without that belief. But players don't always know what's best for them. To be honest, neither do the teams who employ them. And that's why the decisions regarding their fates are so open to second-guessing.

The goal is to facilitate development that ensures the maximum long-term return for both player and franchise. Some players grow best in the hothouse environment of the NHL, soaking up lessons by osmosis while surrounded by professionals. There will be bumps on the way...alright, a few brick walls...but some players have the ability to take their lumps and forge ahead, all the wiser.Others are better nurtured in an environment where there is less pressure, and a greater likelihood of personal and/or team success.

All of that has to be weighed against contract concerns. An underaged player can be returned to juniors at any time, but after he plays in his 10th game, he burns a year of his contract. As a result, nine games are all most players will get to demonstrate where his apprenticeship is best served.

Here's the outlook on the current six:

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