The Buffalo Sabres were left a bit thin in goaltending depth when veteran netminder James Reimer was claimed off of waivers by the Anaheim Ducks last month. Anaheim needed a backup for Lukas Dostal when starter John Gibson needed an appendectomy.
Six weeks later, Gibson has returned and the Ducks have placed Reimer on waivers. The 34-year-old was signed in July to a one-year, $1 million contract by Buffalo, and went 0-2-0, with a 4.50 GAA and .864 save % in two starts with Anaheim. If the Sabres reclaim him, they can immediately send Reimer to the American Hockey League without having to clear waivers again.
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The organization currently has a goaltending issue after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after two periods in the Sabres 7-5 loss to Montreal and with Rochester goalie Felix Sandstrom injured. Luukkonen left the game with what head coach Lindy Ruff described as an “ailment”, and Sandstrom left the Rochester – Hartford game on Friday after being run into by Wolf Pack defenseman Ben Harpur.
Michael Houser started on Saturday with ECHL goalie Matt Vernon backing him up. Reclaiming Reimer would bolster the Amerks between the pipes temporarily and give GM Kevyn Adams a viable backup option if the Sabres decide to send youngster Devon Levi down to the AHL to get more work.
Former Sabre defenseman Riley Stillman was also placed on waivers on Tuesday. The 26-year-old played 18 games for Buffalo in 2022-23 after being acquired in a trade from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom in February 2023. Last season, he played 47 games with AHL Rochester and signed with Carolina as a free agent.
Stillman suffered a lower-body injury in training camp with the Hurricanes and is being waived to get some work in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves.
Any claim of Reimer and Stillman will not be known until 2 pm on Wednesday.
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