Jonathan Bernier sees a good opportunity in Detroit, this season and in the future.

Bernier plans on competing with Jimmy Howard for the starting goaltending job with the Red Wings in 2018-19 and knows it could be his in 2019-2020.

"I know Jimmy a little bit, playing against him, and we're going to push each other to bring this team back in the playoffs," Bernier said. "I didn't want to be in a position where I played 15-20 games, I want to come in and have a chance to play as much as possible. Obviously, depending on my play, but I just thought it was a great opportunity that me and Jimmy can battle for games."

The Red Wings signed Bernier to a three-year, $9 million contract on Sunday.

Howard, 34, is entering the final year of his contract. If he plays well, the Red Wings are expected to offer him a short-term extension.

Regardless, Bernier, who'll be playing for his fourth team in four season, has bigger aspirations that being a little-used backup.

"I could have stayed in Colorado with (Semyon Varlamov having) one year left, but I just decided to move on," Bernier said. "I'll be going on 30 (on Aug. 7), but my body still feels like I'm 25 years old. I know how to take care of my body better than when I was younger. I'm more mature now. I've been through ups and downs in my career, but I think I know how to handle a lot more situations now.

"I just think it was very appealing to me to come down to Detroit and be part of something special. There's a lot of history in this organization and this town and I'm excited to be part of it."

Bernier said part of the lure of Detroit was its Original Six status.

"It's always unbelievable to play for a team like that. I experienced it in Toronto and there's no experience like that," Bernier said. "You go to away (games), see a lot of red in the stands and I think it's an unbelievable feeling.

"Obviously, they didn't make the playoffs this year, but they had an amazing run before that. Our goal is to come back this year in a playoff position and hopefully do some damage. I just thought it was a great fit."

Shoring up their goaltending was a priority for the Red Wings. They parted ways with Jared Coreau and Tom McCollum, the tanden with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and none of their goalie prospects (Filip Larsson, Keith Petruzzelli, Joren van Pottelberghe) is close to being NHL-ready. They signed Harri Sateri on Sunday to be the main goalie in Grand Rapids.

"Jonathan Bernier played so well in Colorado and Anaheim the year before and in Toronto," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's a really a good age for a goaltender. We need to be strong in goal and we think with Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier we're going to have a good 1-2 punch."

Bernier was selected 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2006 but was forced out after Jonathan Quick's emergence. He played three seasons as primarily the No. 1 man in Toronto before spending a year each in Anaheim and Colorado.

A three-year deal provides some stability.

"I'm really happy for me and my family to be able to stay at least three years and hopefully more in one city, especially for our child, he's going to start school very soon and it's something that it was important for me," Bernier said.