Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 2009 draft (#95 overall) goaltender Jean-Francois Berube(35) finally moved up the hockey ladder to start the last season of his 3-year entry level deal in the AHL with Manchester Monarchs.
In his first two campaigns he tended net almost exclusively with then ECHL affiliate Ontario Reign.
In 61 games he posted a 32-19-4-2 record with a 2.55 GAA and .908 SV% but really broke through in the Kelly Cup Playoffs where in 10 games he went 6-2-2 and finished with a 2.07 GAA and .914 SV%.
The Kings‘ farm team did have the off season opening for the 6’1″ slim 170 lbs. net minder to step right in and take the back-up job between the pipes; and with that achieved it’s highly doubtful anyone expected him to be pressed into action as the number 1 guy for an extended period.
But that has happened after the farm club’s starting goalie was summoned when Jonathan Quick went down with a long-term injury.
The 23-year old is out of the gate strong with a 6-3-1 record, a solid 2.28 GAA and shutdown .920 SV% very assuredly keeping the Monarchs in their commanding first place Eastern Conference lead.
If he keeps up his stellar play it will be interesting to see if the backstop is qualified with an extension or moved in a trade.