The Ottawa Senators have inked a deal with veteran goalie James Reimer, aged 37, for the remainder of the current season on a one-way contract worth $850,000. This signing comes in light of Linus Ullmark, the team’s starting goaltender, being on personal leave. Reimer, who has played for seven other NHL teams, has participated in 525 games since his NHL debut in December 2010 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last season, Reimer played 22 games with the Buffalo Sabres, boasting a save percentage of .901, which would have placed him as the top goalie for Ottawa this season. His goals-against average of 2.90 is comparable to Ullmark’s performance. Additionally, Reimer recently represented Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, an annual European club hockey tournament, before securing a tryout deal with the Belleville Senators. In his most recent game, he saved 22 out of 28 shots in a home game against Rochester.
In 2023, during his time with the San Jose Sharks, Reimer opted out of participating in a pre-game warmup when the team wore Pride-themed jerseys. He expressed his support for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in hockey but cited personal convictions rooted in his religious beliefs for his decision. Subsequently, the NHL prohibited the use of “cause-based” jerseys following similar actions taken by a few other players.
Since Ullmark’s absence at the end of December, Ottawa has struggled, losing five out of seven games and conceding an average of four goals per game. The team is currently tied with Columbus for the last spot in the Eastern Conference, holding 45 points midway through the season.