Senators sign G James Reimer to boost NHL-worst goaltending

Plagued by weak goaltending performances, the Ottawa Senators inked journeyman goalie James Reimer to a minor league professional tryout contract with the intention of signing and playing him in the NHL, TSN reported.

Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, confirmed Reimer's addition Friday.

The news emerged Thursday night as Ottawa was in the process of losing 8-2 to the host Colorado Avalanche, the NHL's top team. Leevi Merilainen allowed three goals on 18 shots, and backup Mads Sogaard let in five goals on 16 shots before Merilainen was reinserted into the game.

The Senators own the league's worst team save percentage (.872) and slumped to 15th place in the Eastern Conference -- five points out of a wild-card position -- with three consecutive losses this week.

Starting goalie Linus Ullmark, whose save percentage over 28 games is .881, remains away from the team indefinitely on personal leave.

Merilainen stood out for Ottawa as a rookie in 2024-25, posting a .925 save percentage in 12 appearances, but he possesses an .867 save rate in 16 games this season. Sogaard, an AHL call-up, has a career .892 save percentage in 30 outings.

Hunter Shepard, another goalie in Ottawa's system, stopped 10 of 12 shots in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, his Senators' debut.

The Senators hope Reimer, 37, can be a serviceable partner to Ullmark once the Swedish starter is back from leave, according to TSN.

A 15-year veteran, Reimer has a .910 career save percentage across 525 games (479 starts) with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2010-16), San Jose Sharks (2016, 2021-23), Florida Panthers (2016-19), Carolina Hurricanes (2019-21), Detroit Red Wings (2023-24), Anaheim Ducks (2024) and Buffalo Sabres (2024-25).

Reimer played two games for Canada at the recent Spengler Cup during his time as an unsigned free agent.

Ullmark was designated as a non-roster player Thursday in a procedural move that allowed the Senators to activate center Lars Eller, who missed 12 games with a broken foot.

General manager Steve Staios forcefully denied rumors that spread online Thursday about the nature of Ullmark's leave, which was announced Dec. 28.

"Our organization was extremely disappointed to read the completely fabricated and false stories that are spreading around social media about our hockey club. Linus is away from our team for personal reasons and he has the entire organization's support," Staios said in a statement.

"We asked that people respect his privacy, but clearly that request was not heard by the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet. We are disgusted that outside forces are attempting to disrupt our hockey club. This statement will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that has spread online."

The Senators' next games come at home against the Florida Panthers on Saturday and the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media