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James Reimer News & Rumors

Reimer finds own silver lining
April 10
Toronto Sun
 
"James Reimer didn't have to reflect much on the lost season of 2011-12 to zero in on where it started to go off the rails. The Maple Leafs goaltender acknowledged he never felt the same after the Montreal Canadiens' Brian Gionta knocked him on the head during a game on Oct. 22. "That was a huge turning point, but there were plenty of games left for me to find it consistently," Reimer said on Monday as the Leafs gathered one last time at the Air Canada Centre. "Once I came back from the injury, I was not quite back on my game, for whatever reason, just not as sharp as I would have liked. When your goalie is not as sharp, often things do not go as well as you would like for the whole team,"
Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer says neck injury ended his season, not concussion
April 10
Toronto Star
 
"His head clear, leave it to James Reimer to find the positives in a lost season, for himself and for his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates. "Some tough things happened and they just kind of snowballed," said Reimer. "I don't think it's a reflection of the group of guys here, the team we have. You look for 25, 30 games of the year, we didn't play our best. "For most of the season, we played really well. We put a good product out on the ice. You always have to take the positives and for most of the year we had a good, competitive, determined team.""
Maple Leafs rebound with confident James Reimer in goal
March 19
Toronto Star
 
"James Reimer is too humble, even when the times are good, to accept any praise for a victory. But he will say it comes as a great relief to have posted a couple of wins in a row after the mostly horrible season he's had. "We love to play, we love to win and it's hard to have fun when you're losing," Reimer said after a workout Sunday on the campus of Boston University. "Winning is fun. We love to go out there and do our best. Winning is usually a reward for that. "It's been tough getting our reward.""
Leafs goalies will benefit from new coach Randy Carlyle's defence-first approach
March 6
Toronto Star
 
"Randy Carlyle won't say that Jonas Gustavsson is starting Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins. Gustavsson is, by the way. James Reimer let that piece of information slip. It's not that Carlyle is trying to hide anything or play games with the media. "I'm superstitious," said Carlyle. "This is the way I look at goaltending: We make a decision as a coaching staff to put the goaltender in who's going to give us the best chance for success. "The goaltender that plays is not expected to go out and be our saviour. He's expected to give us a chance to win. That's what we ask."
Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke gives vote of confidence to Reimer, Schenn and Grabovski
February 28
Toronto Star
 
"Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer never lost confidence in himself. It appears as if GM Brian Burke also believes in his young goalie. On Monday, Burke said he "flat-out" declined a trade for Reimer. "He's the real deal," Burke said at a news conference at the Air Canada Centre following the trade deadline. That he didn't send Reimer, 23, packing along with defenceman Luke Schenn, 22, and centre Mikhail Grabovski, 28, is also being seen as a huge vote of confidence in the Leaf dressing room as the team tries to move forward."
Leafs goaltending coach defends his guys
February 23
Toronto Sun
 
"In January, when the Maple Leafs allowed three goals or less in 12 straight games, Francois Allaire was getting lots of praise for the club's improved goaltending. On Wednesday, Allaire was trying to protect his reputation and that of the struggling James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson. With neither stopper playing well of late and Toronto's playoff hopes taking a hit, the reknowned instructor assured that both young goalies would get through these "bumps" in their career. Gustavsson allowed a terrible overtime winner on Tuesday night against the Devils that compounded some iffy goals in regulation. "We have two young kids in the net, not a lot of experience," Allaire reminded reporters at"
James Reimer, Leafs Nation believes in you
February 23
Toronto Star
 columnist Dave Feschuk
"An open letter to James Reimer from the apoplectic citizens of Leafs Nation. Dear James: It's up to you now, Optimus. You're our No. 1. Please don't let the town down. The calendar tells us it's six weeks and two days until the regular season concludes in Montreal. We want to be able to tell our kids and grandkids, most of whom aren't old enough to remember playoff hockey in Hogtown, that it's six weeks and three days until the GTA goes Leaf crazy. It's six weeks and a few days until blue-and-white flags are flying out the driver's-side window of every sedan and SUV from Burlington to Barrie; until there's car-horn cacophony from the 416 to above the 407 after the local Original Sixers win"
Leafs' Reimer focused on Oilers — but dreaming about Jets
February 6
Toronto Sun
 
"Two shutouts and the NHL third star of the week honour might not be enough to get James Reimer another start in his home province. While Reimer is set up to play the Edmonton Oilers on Monday at the Air Canada Centre, coach Ron Wilson is thinking big picture and at present, wants Jonas Gustavsson to get back in action on Tuesday in Winnipeg. That was a game Reimer had circled after losing his first game there on New Year's Eve. But Reimer is a victim of his own success, with back-to-back shutouts that likely erased what would have been Gustavsson's home start on Monday. Under the right circumstances, the Morweena, Man., native might play Tuesday, but that depends on the Edmonton game. "I"
Reimer starts in net for Toronto Maple Leafs against Ottawa Senators
February 4
Toronto Star
 
"James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson sat side-by-side in their stalls at the MasterCard Centre when a reporter asked which one was starting Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators. They both laughed. "We both are," said Reimer. "We're going with four skaters and two goalies." Truth is, Reimer is getting his second start in a row. He just shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday — just his second start of 2012 — and Leaf coach Ron Wilson figures the goalie deserved the chance. "It's who we feel most comfortable with, and who's playing well," said Leafs coach Ron Wilson. "Reimer deserves to back up that shutout he had the other night by getting another start.""
Reimer, Gustavsson in sharing mood
February 3
Toronto Sun
 
"So a Monster and a Minister walk into a bar ... and come out smiling. Where some NHL teams have had to keep their goaltenders separated in the dressing room and even trade one to keep the peace, Jonas (the Monster) Gustavsson and James (Reim Minister of Defence) Reimer have learned to co-exist in their battle to be the No. 1 on the Maple Leafs. It helps that each are in the formative stage of their career, instead of two gnarled veterans used to having things their own way. A few years ago, the Red Wings loaded up with Curtis Joseph and Dominik Hasek, who barely spoke. Manny Legace, then a third stringer, was moved to the dressing stall between them where teammates promptly nicknamed him"
Maple Leafs end Penguins winning streak; Reimer records shutout
February 2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Clarke MacArthur scored late in the third period to give Toronto a 1-0 victory against the Penguins at the Air Canada Centre tonight. The loss snapped the Penguins' eight-game winning streak and dropped their record to 29-18-4. MacArthur broke a 0-0 tie at 13:55 of the third when he took a pass in the right circle, then went to the net and pushed a forehand shot past Penguins goalie Brent Johnson. Johnson was making his first start since Jan. 10, and his goaltending partner, Marc-Andre Fleury, spent the entire evening on the bench for the first time in 24 games. Toronto goalie James Reimer made just his second start in the past 13 games and stopped 25 shots to earn the shutout."
James Reimer starts in net tonight for Maple Leafs; Nazem Kadri, Keith Aulie demoted
February 1
Toronto Star
 
"The Maple Leafs will look to rebound Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins with James Reimer back in goal and veterans Colby Armstrong and John-Michael Liles back in the lineup. To make room for the returning veterans, the Leafs have sent speedy forward Nazem Kadri and big defenceman Keith Aulie back to the Toronto Marlies."
Goalies sharing starts not all that bad
January 18
Toronto Sun
 columnist Steve Simmons
"Forty games are gone, the Maple Leafs don't have a definitive starting goaltender, and Denis Potvin thinks that's just fine. In fact, he thinks more teams should look at splitting the 82-game schedule up, the way his New York Islanders did when he they won four straight Stanley Cups in the 1980s, rather than riding one goalie. "I think a lot of NHL teams are finding out they've been wrong," said Potvin, one of the greatest defenceman to ever play. "Billy Smith never played more than 50 games in any of the seasons we won the Cup. You don't have to have a definitive No. 1 during the season if you have two goalies who can play. Then you can run one — the hot guy — in the playoffs." Smith won"
James Reimer to start in Toronto Maple Leafs net against Ottawa Senators
January 17
Toronto Star
 
"Goalie James Reimer gets the start Tuesday against the visiting Ottawa Senators, while rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner returns to action after being sent down to the Toronto Marlies over the weekend. Coach Ron Wilson has also juggled his lines. Tyler Bozak has been cleared for action and he'll be back on the top line between Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, with Tim Connolly dropping to the third line between Nazem Kadri and Matthew Lombardi."
Tough to dislodge The Monster from the Leafs' net
January 12
Toronto Star
 
"Remember James Reimer? You know, the goalie who was supposed to lead the Maple Leafs to the promised land of the playoffs this season? The pride of Manitoba has been pushed aside, at least for now, by Jonas Gustavsson, who has won four straight games and nine of his last 12 starts. Now if we take coach Ron Wilson at his word of playing a goalie until he loses, The Monster should be back in the net on Friday when Toronto travels down the QEW to Buffalo looking for their fifth consecutive win."
Game on for Leaf goalies in battle of the crease
January 12
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"In October, James Reimer was, by consensus, the player whose performance would define the year for the Maple Leafs. Four months later, it's Reimer on the bench while Jonas Gustavsson, it would appear, has saved the season and now owns the Leaf net. One suspects, however, that just as quickly as the goaltending see-saw has tilted in Gustavsson's favour, it could easily tilt back towards Reimer. They are two young goalies looking to establish themselves as bona fide NHL-calibre netminders. Right now, it's still about whether either or both are in the NHL to stay, and about a competition in the Leaf crease that began as one-sided in the fall but is now very much up for grabs."
Leaf answers: Reimer's top game since comeback
December 20
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs reporter Kevin McGran answers the five questions he posed after the Leafs 3-2 shootout loss to the Kings on Monday night. 1. What will prevail — the NHL's worst penalty kill (the Leafs) or the LA's sputtering power play that hasn't scored in six games? Something's gotta give. The Kings got a power play goal — okay, it looked offside, but it counted. It gave L.A. a 2-1 lead. The Leafs would tie it, but fall in the shootout."
Reimer trying to play himself into top form
December 19
Toronto Star
 
"James Reimer won't use his long layoff from a concussion as an excuse. He won't use his current stuffed-up nose and symptoms of a cold as an excuse. He'll simply say he has to play better. "You love to play and you love to win and you love to make saves," Reimer said. "You don't like to lose. I'm hoping I can play a good solid game and get the puck to hit me and give the guys the best chance possible to get a few points." Reimer will be in net Monday night for the Leafs against the visiting Los Angeles Kings even if all would not appear to be well on the Optimus Reim front."
Reimer gets the start
December 13
Toronto Sun
 
"James Reimer is hoping to end his losing streak tonight against Eastern Conference cellar dwellers the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs goaltender hasn't won a game since returning from concussion-like symptoms on Dec. 3. Reimer, who has lost all three of his starts and posted a 3.63 goals-against average since returning from injury, was hurt in a contest against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 22 and missed 18 games. There was some speculation prior to this morning's pre-game skate that Jonas Gustavsson might get the call against the Hurricanes. But the thinking probably was that Reimer needs to get a win to boost his lagging confidence — and who better to achieve it against than struggling"
Leafs' Reimer in awe of Brodeur
December 7
Toronto Sun
 
"When Martin Brodeur stacked the pads to stop league-leading scorer Phil Kessel, then got an arm on the improbable rebound, James Reimer had the same thought as 20,000 others at the Air Canada Centre. "He has a billion wins for a reason," said Reimer, who actually trails Brodeur just 631-24 in career victories. "It was pretty cool to play against him, but I'd have liked to be the one cheering at the end of the game." Reimer, and a whole generation of 21st century NHL netminders, will have a long way to go to catch Brodeur, who despite one of his worst seasons so far in 2011-12, is still capable of showing mid-1990s' form when called upon."
Reimer in line for backup duty in Boston
November 30
Toronto Star
 
"He's getting close, but don't expect Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer to start either of the next two games against the Boston Bruins. But he'll likely be on the bench backing up Jonas Gustavsson on Saturday in Boston. "He's pretty close," coach Ron Wilson said after practice on Tuesday. "He'll probably be backing up in Boston and then we'll make a decision on when he starts.""
Cautious Wilson pegs Reimer's return at 10 days
November 25
Toronto Star
 
"How close is James Reimer to returning to the crease as the Maple Leafs starting goaltender? After partaking in his first full practice in something like a month on Thursday afternoon, Reimer said he felt very close indeed. "For me, a couple more (practices) like this and I should be good to go," Reimer said. But Ron Wilson, the Maple Leafs coach, cautioned that Reimer is "probably 10 days or so away" from playing in a game."
Leafs take gag off Reimer
November 22
Toronto Sun
 
"James Reimer is talking again, now the question is when he can start playing. After being told by the Maple Leafs' brass to stay quiet about the nature of his Oct. 22 head injury, the Leaf goaltender was able to speak Tuesday afternoon after more than an hour of working out at the St. Pete Times Forum. "I missed you guys," a smiling Reimer said as he entered the media scrum. "To get out there and stop pucks, to be back doing what I love to do, (the past few days) have been a lot of fun." Since the weekend, Reimer has been able to increase his workload without being bothered by headaches or other concussion-like symptoms. But he remains adamant that an actual concussion diagnosis was never"
Latest of 'several' concussions worries Reimer's mom
November 10
Toronto Star
 
"Like so many hockey mothers, Marlene Reimer has been through this before, and it never gets easier. Nearly three weeks into her son James's latest experience with the unpredictable effects of a head injury, there's anxiety in the uncertainty. "We're beginning to be a little more concerned than we were at first," the mother of the Maple Leafs goaltender was saying Wednesday. "At first, when (the Maple Leafs) said it was just going to be a day-to-day whiplash kind of thing, you just wait it out. But definitely our concerns are getting a little stronger as time that passes. We're definitely hoping there are going to be some answers coming out of the team shortly, what they're doing or what"
James Reimer back at practice with Leafs
November 2
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs goalie James Reimer is getting closer to returning to the lineup. Reimer took part in Leaf practice in a three-goalie rotation with Jonas Gustavsson and Ben Scrivens. Reimer practised Friday and Saturday and the entire team took Monday off."
Maple Leafs' James Reimer on IR
October 29
ESPN.com
 
"Toronto Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer has been placed on injured reserve, but is eligible to return Sunday. Reimer was placed on IR with what the team officially called "whiplash" after suffering a hit to the head from Montreal's Brian Gionta Saturday. Reimer's agent, Ray Petkau, told ESPN The Magazine's Craig Custance that Reimer has not been diagnosed with a concussion."
Reimer adopts wait-and-see approach after blow to head
October 27
Toronto Star
 
"James Reimer was cautious Wednesday about placing himself back in Thursday's game against the Rangers. It's all but a certainty the Leafs top goalie will return to the Leafs nets against the Rangers. But Reimer took a severe blow to his head — hard enough to knock his mask off — and that remains a source of concern to him and the Leafs. "I think it's still kind of wait and see," said Reimer, who was knocked over in Montreal Saturday night. "It was great getting back on the ice . . . hopefully I'll have more rest and be ready to go (Thursday),""
Reimer's reason for playing hurt
October 24
Toronto Sun
 
"If James Reimer was hurt so badly in the first period Saturday night, why didn't he come out of the net immediately? The goaltender said Sunday when he first was hit, he didn't think he was wounded that badly. "I don't want to come out in the middle of the play," Reimer said after watching the team's practice Sunday. "It wasn't like it was super aggravating. You want to stay in there for the full period and then get a full evaluation in the intermission." That evaluation went through much of the break until finally Leafs coaching and medical staff decided to make the switch. As for the shot he took from Brian Gionta, Reimer didn't believe there was any intent to injure. "I obviously don't"
Reimer 'better' but won't play against Philly
October 24
Toronto Star
 
"It'll be Jonas Gustavsson on the hot seat after the Maple Leafs went through a good news/bad news day on their medical front. First, the bad news. James Reimer is not likely even to dress for Monday night's game against Philadelphia due to the injury he suffered Saturday night in Montreal. And the good news: Tim Connolly, the prized free-agent signing over the summer, took part in full-contact practice Sunday for the first time since injuring himself in training camp."
Report: Reimer to miss at least one start
October 23
NHL.com
 
"The Toronto Maple Leafs may not have No. 1 goaltender James Reimer for their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. TSN is reporting that Reimer, 23, will miss Monday's showdown after suffering a minor neck injury in the early stages of Saturday's 5-4 overtime win at Montreal. Reimer's head made contact with the right elbow of Canadiens captain Brian Gionta in the first minute of the game. He managed to finish the period before meeting with team doctors during the intermission, when it was then ruled that he wouldn't finish the game. Jonas Gustavsson made 15 saves in relief of Reimer and would likely get the start against the Flyers if the latter is unable to play. Reimer"
Reimer and Kessel can't do it all
October 18
Toronto Star
 
"The Maple Leafs spent a handful of recent days trying to convince the world that they're different men than they were a year ago, when a 4-0 start was promptly followed with a back-to-earth slide. Yet there they were on Monday night, faced with a chance to go 4-0, sliding back to earth with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. On a night when starting goalie James Reimer attempted to shoulder the blame, the truth was there was plenty of it to go around. There were also some patterns emerging in a promising season's first four games. Among them . . . These Leafs are slow starters: Monday's first period was Toronto's third lacklustre beginning in four games. Maybe it's the Air"
Reimer not rattled by rough start
September 28
Toronto Sun
 
"When is too early to worry about James Reimer? After a couple of suspect goals to start Monday's game against the Ottawa Senators, it was starting to look like the purported backbone of this team was on the clock. While Reimer has been sharp at times in training camp, the Leafs' No. 1 netminder entered Monday's play with an 0-2 record in two starts."
When Leafs come on, Reimer clicks off
September 16
Toronto Sun
 
"James Reimer admits he's a hard-core sports fan and he loves getting his fix during down time. But to help keep his feet on the ground, the Maple Leafs goaltender also likes to have his own last line of defence. The key during his unexpected rise to saviour status with the Leafs: Have a quick trigger with the remote."
Next year starts now
September 15
Toronto Sun
 
"The Maple Leafs on Wednesday unveiled the 70-player roster for training camp, which opens with medicals on Friday morning. No less than 43 forwards, 21 defencemen and six goalies will compete for jobs at camp. Most dreams will be crushed, the odd one will be realized, and the regulars will try to pick up where they left off last season. A breakdown of the roster, with projected teams once camp breaks (players with age as of Friday, height and weight): BREAKING WITH THE BIG CLUB GOALTENDERS James Reimer, 23, 6-foot-2, 220 Has to show Year 1 was not a fluke Jonas Gustavsson, 26, 6-foot-3, 192 Hoping to keep heart problems at bay"