The Toronto Maple Leafs signed former fourth-round pick from the 2006 NHL Draft, James Reimer, to a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) on Friday.
News of the PTO signings comes on the heels of the team’s announcement that goaltender Joseph Woll was placed on leave due to personal issues. Regardless of the issues Woll is facing, and respecting his privacy, signing Reimer sends an alarming message.
The Maple Leafs’ need for another goaltender could mean that Woll will be away from the team for a while. Based on the move, it would appear that Reimer will be earmarked to back up Anthony Stolarz to start the season.
While the talk has been that Dennis Hildeby could be Stolarz’s backup, it’s tough to envisage the Maple Leafs sending the 37-year-old Reimer to the Marlies to start the season. If anything, the move could mean that Hildeby, who’s waivers exempt, will go down to be the Marlies’ starter.
Meanwhile, Reimer stays with the big club. Potentially, the Maple Leafs could sign Reimer to a two-way deal. Doing so would give the club the flexibility to swap Reimer or Hildeby depending on the situation.
Depending on how long Woll is away from the team, the Maple Leafs might need to find another netminder this season. In the meantime, it looks like Reimer, who played for the Leafs in parts of six seasons, will provide veteran support for a team looking to contend this season.
Reimer Stopgap Solution for Maple Leafs at Best
James Reimer is a stopgap solution for the Maple Leafs at best. The team needs depth in the crease, and Reimer delivers that. He’s a solid, if unspectacular netminder. Last season, Reimer played 22 games for the Buffalo Sabres, posting a 2.90 GAA and a .901 SV%. Those numbers were pretty good considering how the Sabres played last season.
The Anaheim Ducks claimed Reimer after the Sabres placed him on waivers last season. He played two largely regrettable games for the Ducks down the stretch. Over the last four seasons, Reimer has played with less-than-stellar teams. He’s played backup roles for the San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Sabres, and Ducks.
As such, Reimer’s numbers don’t look overly flattering. But that’s more the product of the teams in front of him than his overall performance. During the two seasons he served as a backup for the Carolina Hurricanes, Reimer had much more respectable stats.
Overall, the Maple Leafs will get exactly what they pay for in Reimer. They’ll get a veteran backup who they can trust to support Stolarz, particularly in the grueling back-to-back sets awaiting the Buds this season.
Reimer Becomes Toronto’s Third-String Goalie Upon Woll’s Return
If and when Joseph Woll returns to the Maple Leafs’ crease, James Reimer likely drops down to the third-string role. That’s a huge plus for the club, as they have a clear need for a veteran depth goalie.
In 2024-25, Matt Murray occupied that role. However, Murray was coming off a massive hip surgery and wasn’t fully ready for the season.
That won’t be the case with Reimer. He’ll be ready to hit the ground running whenever he gets the call. Again, considering the grueling schedule facing the Maple Leafs, having a capable third-stringer will be crucial in determining the Leafs’ success this season.