Maple Leafs' Bernier will skip World Championships, Coyotes' Smith going instead

Thanks, but no thanks.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier will not travel to the Czech Republic to wear a maple leaf of a different sort at the World Hockey Championships next month, he told reporters Monday. 

A restricted free agent this summer, the risk of injury or a lingering ailment surely played into his decision to decline Hockey Canada's invite.

Arizona Coyotes netminder Mike Smith, meanwhile, has signed on to wear the red and white.