Maple Leafs sign veteran goaltender James Reimer to professional tryout

The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought back a familiar name, signing veteran goaltender James Reimer on a PTO on Friday. 

Reimer, 37, comes back to the Leafs on a professional tryout agreement as the club scrambles for goaltending options, after starter Joseph Woll left the team to focus his attention on a personal family matter. 

With Woll’s return unclear, general manager Brad Treliving sought extra goaltending help, while Anthony Stolarz takes on starting duties. 

Reimer will compete for a job alongside other goaltenders within the organization, including Toronto Marlies AHL starter Dennis Hildeby, as well as Artur Akhtyamov and Vyacheslav Peksa.

The Maple Leafs originally selected Reimer in the fourth round of the 2006 NHL Draft, and the goaltender spent his first six seasons in Toronto, before leaving in a trade to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline. 

Since his time with the Sharks, Reimer has gone onto play for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings, before playing a combined 24 games between the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks in 2024-25. 

With the Maple Leafs, Reimer took the ice in 207 regular season games, posting a record of 85-76-25, as well as a 2.83 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. 

He also played in seven Stanley Cup Playoff contests, and was the backstop in the Maple Leaf’s infamous collapse from a 4–1 lead in Game 7 of Toronto’s first round series against the Boston Bruins in 2013. 

Through 525 NHL games, Reimer has a record of 225-187-65, and a 2.89 goals-against average, with a  .910 save percentage. 

The Maple Leafs are set to take on the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday in preseason action, and will have two preseason games afterwards, leading up to the regular season opener against the Canadiens on Oct. 8.