Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier says he is willing to remain in Toronto despite the must publicized “rebuild” the team is set to go under this summer.

The 26-year-old is a restricted free agent come season’s end, Bernier insisted his desire to continue to be apart of the team’s plans for the future.

The former Los Angeles Kings net-minder has struggled this year, sharing goaltending duties with ‘back-up’ James Reimer.

Bernier was once apart of a Kings organization that was one of the league’s worst for many years. But after an incredible resurgence the past few years - including two Stanley Cups in four years - that may be in the back of Bernier’s mind when buying into the Maple Leafs rebuild.

Ahead of Sunday night’s 43-save winning effort against the Ottawa Senators, Bernier spoke to TSN’s Jonas Siegel:  

"I think rebuild is a big word first of all. Sometimes you’re just missing a couple pieces to really get to the point where you want to be. But I definitely like it here. Whatever decisions they’re going to make in the summer or the next couple years or whatever it is, I’d definitely like to be part of it."

"Personally I don’t think we’re that far. But yeah, I’d love to stay here and for a long time obviously."

The Leafs landed Bernier in the summer of 2013 and with that contract set to end in a week, what the club does with the pending free agent remains to be seen - especially with the breakdown second half of the season from the goalie and his teammates.

Recalling the success of the Kings after some rough years, Bernier uses it as a potential model for the rebuild in Toronto. 

“When I played at 19 my first year I can count on one hand, I think, the same players that were there when we won [in 2012] and it’s not like they went out and said ‘We’re starting from scratch’,” Bernier explained. 

“I just think they made some good trades and they had a couple good draft picks – Kopitar and Doughty and those guys. It starts from there; obviously your draft is really important. But yeah it definitely kind of reflects on what L.A. did.”

It’s no secret Bernier has had a down year, posting a 21-28-6 record with a 2.89 GAA and 9.21 save percentage.