Berube was released from his professional tryout agreement with the Kings on Sunday.
Berube will report to AHL Ontario for training camp. He currently doesn't have a contract in place for the 2023-24 season. Berube went 8-6-3 with a 3.22 GAA and an .885 save percentage in 19 games with AHL Charlotte last campaign.
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Kings' Jean-Francois Berube: Inks PTO with LA
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Berube signed a professional tryout with the Kings on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Berube spent 2022-23 in the Panthers' organization, posting a 3.22 GAA and an .885 save percentage over 19 appearances with AHL Charlotte. He's unlikely to crack the Kings' Opening Night roster, as Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley are in place to compete for starts as a goaltending tandem this year, and the Kings also signed David Rittich for depth purposes in free agency.
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Panthers' Jean-Francois Berube: Inked then waived
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Berube signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida before being waived Thursday, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Berube's new contract comes with a $750,000 cap hit for the 2022-23 campaign if he plays at the NHL level. The 31-year-old was previously on an AHL contract with the Checkers, and he has a 2.84 GAA and a .901 save percentage in eight contests with the team. Berube's also a veteran of 40 career NHL games, posting a 12-12-4 record, 3.51 GAA and .898 save percentage over that span.
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Panthers' Jean-Francois Berube: Sent to minors
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Berube has been assigned to the AHL Charlotte, according to Florida Hockey Now.
Berube was on a PTO with the Panthers, so it is no surprise that he will start the season in the minors with Charlotte of the AHL. He is a depth goaltender and will need an injury to either Sergei Bobrovsky or Spencer Knight to make it back into the NHL.
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Panthers' Jean-Francois Berube: Receives tryout
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Berube signed a professional tryout agreement with the Panthers on Thursday, per CapFriendly.
Berube went 3-2-0 with a 4.12 GAA and a .900 save percentage in six appearances with the Blue Jackets last year. It was his first NHL action in four years. The Panthers' goaltending plans are likely set with Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight as the tandem for the big club, so Berube is likely auditioning for a two-way deal or a minor-league contract for the upcoming season.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Chased early in finale
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Berube stopped five of eight shots before being replaced by Elvis Merzlikins midway through the first period of Friday's 5-3 loss to the Penguins.
The Blue Jackets didn't even have a shot on goal yet when Berube got lifted, so his poor performance in the final game of the year was more of a team effort. The 30-year-old made six appearances for Columbus this season, posting a 4.12 GAA and .900 save percentage, and he'll remain a depth option for whichever organization he ends up with next year.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Gets start to round out season
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Berube will guard the road cage Friday in Pittsburgh, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Berube will get the nod for the season finale after Elvis Merzlikins manned the crease Thursday. In five NHL appearances this season, Berube has gone 3-2-0 with a 3.61 GAA and .910 save percentage. Pittsburgh still has playoff seeding on the line and will likely dress its best lineup as a result.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Loses in Anaheim
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Berube allowed five goals on 31 shots in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Ducks. The sixth goal was an empty-netter.
Berube got the nod for the second half of a back-to-back, but he wasn't able to shake off the rust after having not played at any level in four weeks. The Ducks' top six did most of the damage against the 30-year-old netminder, who dropped to 3-2-0 with 18 goals allowed in five outings this season. Berube could pick up a stray start going forward, but Elvis Merzlikins will likely continue to dominate the playing time to end the campaign.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Guarding crease Sunday
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Berube will get the starting nod in Anaheim on Sunday, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports.
Berube will make his first NHL appearance since Feb. 25 to give Elvis Merzlikins a break after he started the last 11 games for Columbus. The 30-year-old is 3-1-0 with a .924 save percentage at the NHL level this season. In two road outings against Carolina and Florida, Berube stopped a combined 85 of 92 shots.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Back with big club
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Berube was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Sunday.
Berube went 3-1-0 with a solid .924 save percentage during his last stint with Columbus. The 30-year-old goaltender could serve as Joonas Korpisalo's backup Tuesday in Pittsburgh if Elvis Merzlikins (back) is not available.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Assigned to AHL affiliate
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Berube was demoted to AHL Cleveland on Monday.
Berube has gone 3-1-0 with a 3.25 GAA and .924 save percentage over four NHL appearances this season. The 30-year-old will rejoin AHL Cleveland, looking to build upon his 4-9-4 record, 3.37 GAA and .891 save percentage over 17 performances in 2021-22. Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Blown away by Hurricanes
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Berube stopped 46 of 50 shots in Friday's 4-0 loss to Carolina.
The game was completely one-sided, as Berube got no help from his defense or his offense, but he still managed to keep the Hurricanes off the scoreboard until midway through the second period. It's the first loss in four straight starts for the 30-year-old, but with Elvis Merzlikins healthy again, Berube will fall back into the No. 2 role for Columbus -- a job he might end up keeping the rest of the way if Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) eventually gets traded.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Starting again Friday
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Berube will start Friday's game in Carolina, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports.
Berube knocked off the high-flying (and heavily favored) Panthers on Thursday, turning aside 39 of 42 shots in a 6-3 win. He's being rewarded for his efforts with an equally daunting matchup less than 24 hours later, as the Hurricanes are 17-4-2 at home and have averaged 3.50 goals for this season.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Third straight win
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Berube made 39 saves in a 6-3 win over the Panthers on Thursday.
It was his third consecutive start and win, and those wins include nice outings against the Panthers and Leafs, two of the best teams in the East. This won't last -- Berube last played in the NHL in 2017-18, and he's clearly catching lightning in a bottle. But for managers who need goalie starts, Berube is a solid short term play.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Starting in Florida
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Berube will guard the road goal during Thursday's matchup with the Panthers.
Berube has played well recently, picking up back-to-back wins over the Sabres and the Maple Leafs while posting an admirable .923 save percentage. The 30-year-old goaltender will try to secure his third victory of the year in a brutal road matchup with a Florida team that's 23-4-0 at home this season.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Nabs second straight win
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Berube stopped 39 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
As a bonus, he also recorded a power-play assist on a coast-to-coast gem by Adam Boqvist. The Blue Jackets got out-shot 42-30 on the night, but between Berube's efforts in the crease and Patrik Laine's red-hot shooting, the Jackets came away with another victory. Berube has won two straight starts -- his first NHL victories in nearly four years -- while Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo have dealt with lower-body injuries, but despite his success the 30-year-old should cede No. 1 duties to whichever of that duo get healthy first.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Between pipes against Leafs
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Berube will tend the twine at home versus Toronto on Tuesday, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports.
Berube will make his second straight start of the season after giving up three goals on 36 shots in Sunday's victory over the Sabres. With Elvis Merzlikins (lower body) and Joonas Korpisalo (lower body) both sidelined, the Jackets will continue to utilize Berube for the time being while Jet Greaves serves as the No. 2 option.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Plenty of support in season debut
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Berube made 33 saves in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Sabres.
Pressed into action with both Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo sidelined by lower-body injuries, Berube delivered a decent performance and got plenty of help from a Blue Jackets offense that scored seven goals for the second consecutive game. The 30-year-old journeyman should continue to start until one of Columbus' usual options in net heals up.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Starting Sunday
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Berube will patrol the crease Sunday against visiting Buffalo, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Berube will make his first NHL start since 2017-18. The 30-year-old has gone 4-9-4 with a 3.37 GAA and .891 save percentage over 17 AHL Cleveland games this season. As visitors, the Sabres have posted an 8-12-4 record while averaging 2.46 goals for and 28 shots on goal, ranking 28th and 26th, respectively. The Sabres also hold the eighth-worst road power-play percentage at 15.9.
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Blue Jackets' Jean-Francois Berube: Recalled on emergency basis
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Berube was recalled on an emergeny basis Wednesday.
Berube's promotion suggests Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo may be dealing with an illness or an injury ahead of Thursday's matchup with Chicago. Berube hasn't appeared in an NHL contest since 2017-18, so he likely won't get the start against the Blackhawks if Merzlikins or Korpisalo is unavailable.
