The $2.89 million the Leafs are offering is the minimum allowed, which is the common sense negotiation move; it sets the baseline in the window of agreement, and is the reason why the Leafs opted for team-elected arbitration (85% of last season’s salary as opposed to the 105% qualification scenario). Bernier obviously has also anchored his demand at something above a reasonable ask (no one needs the basics of arbitration explained at this point).
It may seem a little unnecessary at first blush to take such a hard line on Jonathan Bernier’s one-year contract in a year when cap space is plentiful, but there’s obvious reasons for it.