Senators Sign James Reimer To Help With Goaltending

The Ottawa Senators goaltending has been in shambles all season long, and although Linus Ullmark wasn't having a good season as the starter, he has been taken off the board and is away from the team for the foreseeable future, leaving the duties in the Senators crease to Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard. Because that has gone so poorly, the team decided to bring in James Reimer.

The Senators gave Reimer a game in the AHL where he didn't play well at all, but are so desperate that the team has signed the veteran goalie to a one-year, one-way deal at $850,000. He will tandem the net with Merilainen for the time being.

James Reimer signs a one-year, one-way deal with #sens worth a pro-rated $850,000
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 12, 2026

Reimer might not be able to save the poor play in net, but he did prove himself last season on the Buffalo Sabres where he won seven starts in the row and eight of his last 10 games played. During that time he had an .897 SV%, and the Senators would absolutely take that right now as their team SV% is .872 between four goalies.

The Senators are not in a good place. They have fallen to a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference and have lost four in a row and seven of the last nine games. During that span, the team has allowed less than three goals just once (two) and have allowed five or more three times.

Reimer will have a chance to come right in and start games for the desperate and struggling Senators. The 37-year-old had a strong showing at the Spengler Cup for Team Canada and has been awaiting an opportunity to play in the NHL again. By the way this season has gone, he has the chance to be better than many goalies around the league, but the Senators need him the most right now.