The Ottawa Senators have inked a one-way contract with veteran goalie James Reimer, aged 37, for the remainder of the current season. This agreement, worth $850,000, comes at a time when Ottawa’s primary netminder, Linus Ullmark, is on a personal leave of absence.
Reimer, who has played for seven other NHL teams previously, has participated in 525 games since his NHL debut in December 2010 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the last season, he played 22 games with the Buffalo team. His save percentage of .901 during that season would have positioned him as Ottawa’s top goaltender this year. Reimer’s goals-against average of 2.90 is comparable to Ullmark’s performance.
The Manitoba native recently competed for Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, a prestigious European club hockey competition. Subsequently, he secured a tryout deal with the Belleville Senators last week, where he showcased his skills by stopping 22 of 28 shots in a home game against Rochester on Sunday.
In 2023, while playing for the San Jose Sharks, Reimer opted out of participating in a pre-game warmup when the team wore Pride-themed jerseys. He expressed that while he believed 2SLGBTQ+ individuals should be welcomed in hockey, he personally chose not to support something that conflicted with his religious beliefs based on the Bible.
Following that incident, 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 five losses in their last seven games, conceding an average of four goals per game. At the midpoint of the season, the team’s 45 points have tied them with Columbus for the last spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
