Reimer remains hopeful for longer Toronto tenure
The Maple Leafs solved one goaltending question this summer when they re-signed goalie Jonathan Bernier to a two-year, $8.3 million deal, but their other goaltender, James Reimer, remains in flux.
The 27-year-old Reimer is set to become a free agent next summer after spending the entirety of his five-year NHL career with the Leafs, and Reimer still has not proven himself as the No. 1 goalie on Toronto's roster.
Reimer and Bernier shared the netminding duties over the last two seasons, and Reimer has continued to be a streaky goalie, looking unbeatable at times while giving up many soft goals at other times. He has never started more than 37 games in a single season. All of that combined with Bernier's new contract indicates Reimer will have to prove himself this season if he hopes to stick around town. According to a recent interview with the Toronto Sun, it looks like Reimer has the motivation to do just that.
"This is the only organization I know and it was always my dream when I got drafted to play my whole career here," Reimer told the Toronto Sun. "It’s one of the best, I mean it is the best place to play and by far the best place to win and having seen that there is no place I would rather go. Hopefully, I can keep working hard and keep earning the job and we can have a lot of success."
Reimer helped the Leafs make a playoff run during the 2012-13 season, and he started all seven of the Leafs' playoff games. Reimer played well, recording two performances of 40-plus saves, but the Leafs ultimately fell to the Bruins in the series after a devastating 5-4 OT loss in Game 7.
(h/t Toronto Sun)
