HBIC is not a blog where you can read a lot of news from Toronto Maple Leafs, especially since this site lives on the ABT -Motto: Everyone except Toronto. By saying that, I want to extend a sincere wish for all the positive things that are positive about Maple Leafs -goalkeeper Joseph Woll who left the team Provide a personal family issue. I hope it is not something that means the loss of a family member, but I also respect his privacy, so I will not comment or speculate further. However, the Leafs are now a starting goalkeeper with Woll who was away from the team, and they decided to dive into the free agent pool and jump back to 2012 to solve their stopping problem.
The Leafs announced that goalkeeper James Reimer had signed a professional Tryout contract with the team to stabilize the target position while Woll is on his personal leave. The 37-year-old Reimer played with Anaheim and Buffalo last season and posted a record of 10-10-2. His two losses with Anaheim aside, Reimer placed very respectable figures with the Sabres because he had a 2.85 GAA and a .901 savings percentage in 22 games with the always brutal Sabres.
Reimer will probably see a number of starts if Woll does not return by 8 October. The 24-year-old Dennis Hildreby has only six NHL matches on his CV, and the often wounded Anthony Stolarz is the other option that will probably form the goal congregation for the Leafs until Woll’s ready to play. Stolarz and Reimer are a very capable goal convening couple, so the Leafs should not see a serious drop-off in the fold when it comes to possibly stopping pucks and winning games.
You are at the end that 28-year-old Ilya Samsonov may have been a better signature, but it might be a difficult sale to return to the team for a man who let Toronto walk in the summer of 2024. Outside of Samsonov, Alexandar Georgiev would be another keeper with a remarkable NHL experience that still escapes, but his number was worse than that of Reimer. In short, the Reimer is the best option of the Leafs.
The question will be what to do with Reimer when Woll returns. If the Leafs are planning to have the best goaling they can, they can turn this opportunity for Reimer into a three-goalie competition in which the top two keeps like the team’s tandem. Bee Woll signs a three -year deal Last season that starts on 8 October, this is perhaps the way of The Leafs to try to find out the second goal convening selection between Reimer and Stolarz. Anyway, one of those two two -loves will probably be waived or traded as soon as Woll returns.
Reimer where he must show that he can immediately be an elite goalkeeper, but that pressure does not seem to influence him.
“I haven’t had much fun in a long time,” Reimer said after Saturday’s training. “It was a special experience to be back here. Many memories and many good emotions and really enjoy the moment and just enjoying it back. It’s a lot of fun.”
“This is where I started,” he continued and answered a second question. “This is where the whole thing has started. It is a special city. I mean, it is the best game on earth and the best city to play the game. I have so many good memories. I am sure there were some bad memories. I don’t remember any of them. I am sure no one else does that too.”
All jokes aside, Reimer was traded from the Leafs to the San Jose Sharks with Jeremy Morin for Alex Stalock, Ben Smith and conditional pick in the third round in the 2018 Draft on 27 February 2016 while the Leafs went with Jonathan Bernier and Garrett sparks as their tandem. Stalock played for the Marlies for one season, Ben Smith spent 52 games in the colors of Leafs, and that 2018 turned out to be Riley Stotts who has now played four seasons of Canada West Hockey.
Apart from scheduling maladministration in 2016, Reimer remained an NHL goalkeeper when he bounced around the competition, so the Leafs should try to maximize Reimer’s commercial value by playing him as a starter. As a 37-year-old on a PTO, he is clearly the most replaceable between himself and Stolarz, but if he shows and is removed for some skill, it is likely that a team that a keeper needs will claim him and the Leafs will lose him for nothing. And it feels a bit like 2016 all over again.
This is the problem with Stop-Gap goal congregation. If the Leafs had developed a net than to take the next step, James Reimer would not be necessary. That does not mean that Reimer cannot or will not be more solid, because how long he will be in Toronto this time, but this would not even have been a discussion if Dennis Hildreby or Artur Akhtyamov would have been ready. The Leafs clearly believe that they are not, so Reimer is the stop gap until Woll returns.
Whatever happens to Reimer after Woll Returns is the result that the Leafs do not have a NHL-ready replacement at AHL level with whom they can call. I have no mistake from James Reimer for grabbing the opportunity to return to Toronto and play again for the Maple Leafs, but it seems that his days have already been numbered as a stop-gap goalkeeper.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
#StopGap #GoalTinKing