The New York Rangers signed former Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer to an NHL contract, and are reportedly immediately bringing him aboard the NHL roster.
Sunday came with a bit of signing news as the New York Rangers made sure their goaltending situation was shored up. After losing Igor Shesterkin, the responsibility was saddled onto Dylan Garand who has been stellar, but could also use some veteran help behind him.
James Reimer finds another NHL job as his journeyman career continues
The Rangers certainly gave him that when they added James Reimer to the roster on Sunday, signing him to an NHL deal after giving him a tryout with the Hartford Wolf Pack - where he already posted a shutout:
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The journeyman goaltender makes the Rangers team #9 for him in his NHL career, as he has carved out a role as a solid and reliable backup for the past several years. Last season, he posted a 7-4-2 record with the Ottawa Senators with a 2.42 GAA and .886 SV% in a starting role as the team dealt with injuries late in the year.
For his career, the 38-year-old has a 232-197-61 record with a 2.87 GAA and .909 SV% and has spent time with the Maple Leafs, Panthers, Sharks, Hurricanes, Red Wings, Sabres, Ducks, and Senators.
Desperate times call for desperate measures for the Rangers
Nothing against Reimer, but the Rangers are really taking a stretch here. The ideal situation is that Garand is the bonafide starter going forward with Reimer coming in every third or fourth game to help give him a rest.
If the Rangers are trying to give him split duties with Reimer however, then it could be a problem. Reimer is definitely a use sparingly backup and the last time he was a bonafide starter was in the 2022-23 season with the Sharks - posting a 12-21-8 record with a 3.48 GAA and .890 SV%.
That was a year that basically led him down this path as a backup as he couldn't find regular work as a starter anymore, and while he's carved out a solid career continually, it's hard to ask him to start 35-40 games a season.
But with the Rangers having minimal options at the AHL level and no real backup plan with Joonas Korpisalo also injured and the backup role resting on Spencer Martin - a goalie with under 70 career starts, they needed veteran help.
Reimer is the one they went with, and if he can continue his momentum he gained in that short AHL stint then it could be a lot better for New York than they had ever anticipated.
Will James Reimer help the New York Rangers with their goaltending problems?
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