The Ottawa Senators have inked a contract with James Reimer, a 37-year-old goaltender, for the remainder of the current season with a one-way deal worth $850,000. This signing comes in light of Linus Ullmark, Ottawa’s starting goaltender, being on a personal leave of absence.
Having played for seven NHL teams previously, Reimer boasts a career spanning 525 games since his debut in December 2010 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the previous season, Reimer played 22 games with Buffalo, achieving a .901 save percentage, which would have positioned him as Ottawa’s top goalie this season. Additionally, his 2.90 goals-against average aligns closely with Ullmark’s stats.
Recently, Reimer represented Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, an annual European club hockey tournament. Following this, he secured a tryout agreement with the Belleville Senators, where he faced 28 shots, stopping 22 in a home game against Rochester.
In 2023, Reimer made headlines for declining to participate in a pre-game warmup with the San Jose Sharks, where the team donned Pride-themed sweaters. He cited personal convictions rooted in his beliefs and declined to endorse the initiative, emphasizing that inclusivity in hockey was important.
Subsequently, the NHL implemented a ban on “cause-based” jerseys in response to Reimer’s stance and similar decisions made by other players in the league. Since Ullmark’s absence on December 28, the Senators have struggled, losing five out of seven games and conceding an average of four goals per game. At the midway point of the season, Ottawa finds themselves tied with Columbus for the last spot in the Eastern Conference standings with 45 points.