The Detroit Red Wings added the goaltending help they needed with a short-term, low-risk option.
James Reimer, a 35-year-old with 476 NHL games to on his resume, was signed for one year and $1.5 million on the opening day for free agency. General manager Steve Yzerman said earlier in the week that adding at least one goaltender was a priority.
Reimer (6 foot 3, 205 pounds) projects to share the net with Ville Husso. The Wings had also scouted Antti Raanta and Joonas Korpisalo ahead of free agency, but Raanta stayed in Carolina for one year, $1.5 million and the Ottawa Senators committed five years and $20 million to Korpisalo.
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Reimer has been in the NHL since 2010-11, racking up experience with the Toronto Maple Leafs (who drafted him at No. 99 in 2006), the San Jose Sharks (two stints), Florida Panthers, and Hurricanes. He has 2.87 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 476 games (204-169 and 61 shutouts). He posted a .89 save percentage and 3.48 GAA in 43 games, 41 of them starts, last season with the Sharks.
This is a safe signing — Reimer has a resume that indicates he will stabilize the Wings in goal, where they were hurt last season by how much backups Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg struggled. A one-year deal is a good stop-gap as the Wings wait to see how 2021 first-round pick Sebastian Cossa performs in what is expected to be his first full season in the AHL.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings signed free agent goaltender James Reimer
