The Ottawa Senators have secured the services of veteran goalie James Reimer on a one-way contract for the remainder of the current season. This move comes in light of the absence of starting goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is on a personal leave of absence.
At 37 years old, Reimer joins the Senators as his eighth NHL team, boasting an extensive career that spans 525 games since his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in December 2010. Last season, the Manitoba native played 22 games with the Buffalo Sabres, achieving a .901 save percentage, which would have positioned him as Ottawa’s top goalie this season. Additionally, Reimer’s goals-against average of 2.90 closely matches that of Ullmark.
Having recently participated in the Spengler Cup representing Team Canada, Reimer signed a tryout agreement with the Belleville Senators last week. In his debut game against Rochester, he made 22 saves out of 28 shots in a losing effort at home.
In a notable incident in 2023, Reimer declined to take part in a pre-game warmup with the San Jose Sharks when the team sported Pride-themed jerseys. Citing personal convictions rooted in his religious beliefs, Reimer expressed support for inclusivity in hockey but chose not to endorse causes that conflicted with his beliefs.
Following this incident, the NHL implemented a ban on “cause-based” jerseys, prompted by Reimer’s stance and that of a few other players who made similar choices.
Since Ullmark’s departure on December 28, Ottawa has struggled, losing five out of their seven recent games and conceding an average of four goals per game. With the season at its midway point, the team finds itself tied with Columbus for the last position in the Eastern Conference standings, accumulating a total of 45 points.
The signing of Reimer aims to bolster the Senators’ goaltending depth and provide stability in Ullmark’s absence as the team strives to improve its performance and climb the standings in the second half of the season.