Senators sign James Reimer to one-year contract
A veteran name is officially back in the NHL.
On Monday, Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios announced that the team has signed goaltender James Reimer to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The deal carries a cap hit of $850,000.
NEWS RELEASE: #Sens agree to one-year contract with goaltender James Reimer: https://t.co/dO2X6iA7EG
COMMUNIQUÉ: Les #Sens accordent un contrat d'un an au gardien James Reimer: https://t.co/zFw4Op6WwY
Reimer joined the organization late last week on a professional tryout with the Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Belleville Senators. He appeared in one game, giving up six goals on 28 shots against the Rochester Americans, suffering an overtime loss.
Reimer joins Ottawa amidst the team’s woes between the pipes. With Linus Ullmark still on leave from the team, Leevi Merilainen has struggled to pick up the slack. While the team hasn’t really utilized the prospects in its system, Hunter Shepard and Mads Sogaard, both goaltenders, have appeared in only one game each.
Reimer brings in a lot of veteran experience. The Manitoba native put his name on the map with the Toronto Maple Leafs well over a decade ago, helping the team make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2013. From there, he bounced around, playing for the San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks.
Reimer returned to Toronto briefly during training camp on a PTO, but didn’t make the final roster. He hasn’t totally been out of action. He played for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup last month. He appeared in two games in Switzerland, posting a 1-1-0 record with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Canada lost in the quarterfinals to HC Sparta Praha.
Reimer was last seen in an NHL game last April with the Buffalo Sabres. He went 10-8-2 during the 2024-25 season, posting a 2.90 GAA, a .901 SV% and one shutout. In 525 career appearances, the 37-year-old has a record of 225-187-65, with a 2.89 GAA, a .910 SV% and 31 shutouts.
The Senators (20-19-5) sit last in the Atlantic Division, seven points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa is scheduled to host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.