Ottawa Senators Sign Veteran Goaltender James Reimer to One-Way Contract for 2025-26 Season
The Ottawa Senators have recently signed veteran goaltender James Reimer to a one-way contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Reimer, who was previously on an AHL tryout with the team, will now have a cap hit of $850,000 for the season. Last season, Reimer played in 24 NHL games split between the Anaheim Ducks and the Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded a 10-10-2 record with a 3.04 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. He has also played for several other NHL teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, who drafted him in 2006.
After signing a professional tryout (PTO) with the Leafs at the start of the 2025-26 season, Reimer was released by the team in October. With 525 games of NHL experience under his belt, Reimer has a career goals-against average (GAA) of 2.83 and has accumulated 225 wins in the league. The addition of Reimer to the Senators' roster comes at a crucial time, as goaltender Linus Ullmark took a leave of absence for personal reasons on December 28. In Ullmark's absence, the team has relied on Leevi Merilainen, Hunter Shepard, and Mads Sogaard to tend the net.
In conclusion, the Ottawa Senators have bolstered their goaltending depth by signing James Reimer to a one-way contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. With his wealth of NHL experience and solid performance record, Reimer is expected to provide stability and support to the team's goaltending unit during a challenging period.