Senators’ sign James Reimer to AHL PTO, expected to sign NHL deal

The Ottawa Senators have signed goaltender James Reimer to an American Hockey League professional tryout and is expected to sign an NHL deal, according to TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger.

Dreger reported that the Senators hope the 37-year-old Reimer will eventually be a backup for Linus Ullmark, who has been out since Dec. 28 after taking a leave of absence from the club for personal reasons.

In 2024-25, Reimer, a native of Morweena, Man., went 10-10-2 in 24 games with the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres, where he posted an .896 save percentage (SV%) and 3.04 goals against average (GAA) with a goals saved above expected (GSAx) of 8.0.

Through 15 NHL seasons, Reimer, a 2006 fourth-round pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is 225-187-65 with an .910 SV% and 2.89 GAA with the Ducks, Sabres, Leafs, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings.

His best statistical season came with Toronto in the NHL’s 2013 lockout-shortened campaign, where he went 19-8-5 with a .924 SV%, 2.46 GAA and an 11.5 GSAx, the last of which ranked third in the league.

He’s also played in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games, going 5-5 with a .925 SV% and 2.70 GAA.

As for Ullmark, who last played Dec. 27 against the Leafs, he’s 14-8-5 with an .881 SV%.

The Senators are 20-17-5 with 45 points in 42 games through 2025-26. They are last in the Atlantic Division and are four points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.