Can James Reimer’s Good Vibes Lift the Maple Leafs?

It’s been a long time since James Reimer pulled on a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater. For some, his name still conjures up that spring night in 2013—Game 7 against Boston, the collapse, the heartbreak. Fair enough. But the stats remind us he wasn’t the goat that night: a .923 save percentage in the series, .914 in 188 regular-season games. He held his own.

Reimer Is in the Maple Leafs on a PTO

Now here he is again, 37 years old, skating at camp on a PTO, grinning like he’s just won the lottery. “It’s the greatest game on earth and the greatest city to play the game in,” he said, soaking in the moment. He laughed off the bad memories, insisting he barely remembers them at all. The fans in the stands smiled with him.

And that raises a question: Do good vibes like this actually matter? Do they carry across to the rest of the team?

Right now, camp feels light. Other than those players who faced waivers or are unsure of a job, everyone’s smiling, joking, feeling the rhythm of a fresh season. For example, players like Calle Järnkrok, David Kämpf, or Nick Robertson may be squeezed out. Still, most players are enjoying that rare gift: optimism. And Reimer, with his history and his sunny attitude, adds to it.

Although Good Vibes Don’t Kill Penalties, Can They Make a Difference?

But here’s the thing. Vibes don’t kill penalties. They don’t outmuscle Montreal on a Saturday night or keep Connor McDavid from walking through your defense. Hockey’s a game of habits and execution, not just smiles in September.

Still, I wonder if Reimer’s presence, however temporary, isn’t worth something intangible. This is a team that too often feels fractured—criticized stars, scapegoats, endless debates about toughness and heart. Reimer brings a reminder that hockey is supposed to be joyful, that even the hard nights fade while the good memories stay.