Reimer, Maple Leafs agree on two-year contract

Goaltender James Reimer and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to a two-year contract, the team said Friday. No financial terms were disclosed, but Elliotte Friedman of "Hockey Night in Canada" reported the contract has an average annual value of $2.3 million.

Reimer and the Maple Leafs had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for July 28.

"He never said, 'Get me out of here,'" general manager Dave Nonis told the Toronto Star. "What he did ask was for us to explore opportunities that would make sense for both sides. We did. I went back to him and said, 'I don't have something that I would feel comfortable doing and we prefer to sign you.'

"We both felt him coming back was good for us and for him. He wouldn't have signed a two-year deal if he didn't feel comfortable coming back to Toronto."

Reimer, 26, went 12-16-1 with a 3.29 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 36 games with the Maple Leafs in 2013-14, but finished the season by losing eight of his final nine decisions.

He was taken by Toronto in the fourth round (No. 99) of the 2006 NHL Draft and has a record of 65-48-15, with a 2.85 GAA, .914 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 140 games.

Reimer's best season was 2012-13, when he was 19-8-5 with a 2.46 GAA and .924 save percentage, helping the Maple Leafs to their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2004.

"It gives James a little bit of security and shows we still believe he is a goaltender that can continue to improve, and it solidifies our goaltending position," Nonis said.