Senators Address Goalie Need With 525-Game Veteran

The Ottawa Senators made a desperation move to address their goaltending crisis, signing veteran James Reimer to a one-year contract for the remainder of the season. The deal carries an annual value of $850,000 and provides Ottawa with experienced depth as they navigate the worst goaltending in the NHL.

General manager Steve Staios announced the signing this past weekend, bringing in a netminder with 525 games of NHL experience at a time when the Senators desperately need stability between the pipes. Ottawa currently ranks dead last in the league with a .868 save percentage, a shocking collapse from last season when they posted a respectable .901 mark.

Crisis Behind the Move

The signing addresses immediate concerns created by Linus Ullmark's personal leave of absence. The starting goaltender has been away from the team since late December, and his absence has exposed serious depth issues.

Backup Leevi Merilainen has struggled mightily in relief, most notably surrendering eight goals in a lopsided loss to Colorado. The Senators have lost five of seven games since Ullmark left and are at risk of missing the playoffs despite having a top-ten offense.

The team scores 2.7 goals per 60 minutes at even strength and ranks in the top ten on the power play, but cannot overcome the defensive breakdowns and poor goaltending.

Veteran Experience

Reimer brings 15 seasons of NHL experience to Ottawa. The 37-year-old has compiled a record of 225-187-65 with a career goals-against average of 2.89 and save percentage of .910 over 525 regular season games.

A fourth-round pick by Toronto in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Reimer spent his first eight professional seasons with the Maple Leafs organization. He has since played for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, and Anaheim Ducks.