James Reimer impressed with how Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby use their size

The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled a surprise move in late September, bring back longtime franchise goaltender James Reimer on a professional tryout contract nearly a decade since he last appeared with the team.

Reimer joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take to break down the past few weeks, sharing his initial reaction when the Leafs reached out.

“I was very interested,” Reimer said. “Obviously I have great memories from Toronto, nothing but good things to say about the city and my time there. When the Toronto Maple Leafs come calling, you pick up the phone. So I was glad that something worked out that made sense for me to go out there.”

Reimer made one preseason appearance back in the blue and white sweater, splitting the net with Dennis Hildeby for the Maple Leafs final tune-up game before the regular season. Two days later, he was released from his PTO, sharing on Wednesday that it just didn’t line up in the end.

“Obviously it’s a unique situation there,” he said. “There were some paths presented going forward, but I think on both sides it just didn’t make sense. So that’s kinda how it ended.”

Regardless, it was a nice blast from the past to have Reimer skating with the team once again as they gear up for the upcoming season. Training with Hildeby and Anthony Stolarz, the longtime Leafs goalie was able to witness the next generation of Toronto’s tendies up close. And he had great things to say about what he saw.

“(Stolarz) is a really good goalie,” Reimer said. “I think that he’s got a great mix of ability, he’s calm in there and uses his size really well. I think that serves him incredibly well. With goalies, sometimes big guys can have holes, it’s sometimes hard to cover different parts of the net or they don’t move well. I think (Stolarz) uses his size really impressively and he’s got good reads to go on top of it.”

With Joseph Woll out indefinitely, Hildeby has also had some extra eyes on him, and Reimer added what he likes about the 24-year-old rising talent.

“The way he moves as a big guy and his technical game,” Reimer said. “I got to practice with him a couple times this week and I meant what I said, he’s got a bright future. He’ll keep developing his game. I think your reads get better and better as you get more experience. With the skillset he has, it’s just a matter of time before it all comes together.”

While Reimer won’t be appearing between the pipes for the Maple Leafs this season, his perspective as a long time tenant of Toronto’s crease is always appreciated. Still an unrestricted free agent, it remains to be seen what’s next for the 37-year-old goaltender.