James Reimer Provides Stability in Goal for Ottawa Senators
James Reimer has quickly become a stabilizing force in the Ottawa Senators' crease, bringing veteran presence and reliability to a team navigating significant challenges. The Senators are preparing to face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday following an impressive 5-2 victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
A Veteran Presence During Turbulent Times
The Senators brought in Reimer to help steady the ship during a difficult period. The team was struggling to get consistent saves while their top goaltender, Linus Ullmark, took a personal leave of absence for mental health reasons. Since signing as an unrestricted free agent on January 12, Reimer has helped guide the club through rough waters with his experience and professionalism.
In the Senators' decisive win over Colorado, the 37-year-old goaltender didn't need to be a savior—he simply needed to be solid. Reimer delivered exactly that with 16 stops in what many considered the team's most complete game of the year against the NHL's best team.
Seamless Transition and Team Support
"It's been a good transition," said Reimer, who has played 530 games in his NHL career. "The guys have been great, the coaches have been great, management has been great. Everyone has done an incredible job of welcoming me and getting me what I need to get up to speed."
Reimer emphasized his approach to the new opportunity: "I've just tried to put in the work, a ton, trust it and do what you can."
Examining the Numbers
Since joining the Senators, Reimer has posted a 2-2-1 record with a 3.05 goals-against average and .874 save percentage in five games. While these statistics might not appear impressive on paper, his overall performance has provided exactly what the club needs during this transitional period.
What makes Reimer's contribution particularly noteworthy is that he hadn't played an NHL game since appearing in the pre-season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although he played for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland around the Christmas holidays, the competition he's facing now represents a significant step up in intensity.
Creating Development Opportunities
Reimer's presence has created valuable breathing room for the Senators' organizational depth. The team has been able to give 23-year-old top goalie prospect Leevi Merilainen a chance to reset his development. Before being sent down, Merilainen had an 8-10-1 record with a 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage. In five games with Belleville, his numbers have improved to a 2.59 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Strategic Decision Making
Steve Staios, the club's president of hockey operations and general manager, has effectively bought the Senators some time with this veteran acquisition. Reimer will help support Ullmark when he makes his first start since December 27.
Former NHL goalie Jamie McLennan, a colour analyst on TSN's broadcast of Senators games, offered perspective on the move: "James is a happy personality and he's a pro. Are there probably sexier trades out there? Yes, because you're going to go for somebody younger and maybe somebody with a bit more upside."
McLennan continued: "But with that comes currency and, all of a sudden, do you mess up the balance of power? Linus isn't out of the lineup with an injury, he's out for a personal matter. You don't want to crowd his pathway back. You look at Leevi's situation at the time and you don't want to impede his pathway to development."
"If you're Steve Staios, you're trying to plug a hole. You want to buy some time until your perfect scenario comes back," McLennan concluded.
Looking Ahead
There isn't much that Reimer hasn't seen in his extensive career. The Senators have used five goalies this season, creating a clear need for stability until Ullmark can regain his rhythm upon return—whether that happens on Saturday against New Jersey or next week during road games.
Reimer's experience and steady presence have provided the Senators with exactly what they needed: a reliable goaltender who can maintain stability while the team navigates challenging circumstances and prepares for the return of their top netminder.
