The Ottawa Senators have inked a one-way contract for the remainder of the season with James Reimer, a 37-year-old goaltender. This agreement, valued at $850,000, follows the absence of Ottawa’s starting goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is currently on a personal leave. Reimer, who debuted in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in December 2010, is now on his eighth NHL team after playing 525 games. Notably, Reimer played 22 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season, boasting a .901 save percentage, which would have positioned him as Ottawa’s top goalie this season. His 2.90 goals-against average aligns closely with Ullmark’s stats.
In his most recent appearance, Reimer represented Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, an annual European club hockey tournament. Following this, he secured a tryout deal with the Belleville Senators and delivered a solid performance by stopping 22 of 28 shots in a home game against Rochester last Sunday.
In a notable incident from 2023, Reimer declined to participate in a pre-game warmup while playing for the San Jose Sharks, as the team wore Pride-themed jerseys. He expressed his belief that while 2SLGBTQ+ individuals should be embraced in hockey, he chose not to endorse something conflicting with his personal beliefs derived from the Bible. Subsequently, the NHL prohibited the use of “cause-based” jerseys after a few other players made similar decisions.
Since Ullmark’s absence began on December 28, Ottawa has suffered losses in five of their seven games, conceding an average of four goals per game. At the midway point of the season, the team’s 45 points have tied them with Columbus for the bottom spot in the Eastern Conference.