The Ottawa Senators have inked a contract with veteran goalie James Reimer, aged 37, agreeing to a one-way deal for the remainder of the current season. This move comes as starting netminder Linus Ullmark of Ottawa is currently on a personal hiatus. Reimer, who has played for seven other NHL teams, has accumulated 525 games since his debut in December 2010 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Hailing from Manitoba, Reimer featured in 22 games for Buffalo in the previous season, boasting a .901 save percentage which would have positioned him as Ottawa’s top goaltender this year. Additionally, his 2.90 goals-against average closely aligns with Ullmark’s performance.
Reimer recently represented Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, a prestigious annual European club hockey competition. Following this, he secured a trial agreement with the Belleville Senators and showcased his skills by stopping 22 of 28 shots in a home game against Rochester.
In a notable incident in 2023, while playing for the San Jose Sharks, Reimer opted out of participating in a pre-game warmup when the team sported Pride-themed jerseys. He expressed his belief that while the LGBTQ+ community should be embraced in hockey, he personally abstained due to his religious convictions based on the Bible.
The NHL subsequently implemented a ban on “cause-based” jerseys following the stance taken by Reimer and a few other players. Ottawa has faced challenges in Ullmark’s absence, losing five of their seven recent games and conceding an average of four goals per match. At the midpoint of the season, the Senators find themselves tied with Columbus at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 45 points.