Reimer didn't start playing goalie because he wanted to. He started playing goalie because his brother Mark needed him to.
Looking for a target to practice his shooting against, Mark asked his brother to step in and James handled the role so well that some friends eventually went home and suggested to their father, a rec coach looking for a goalie, that he give James a try.
Reimer didn't start playing goalie because he wanted to. He started playing goalie because his brother Mark needed him to.
Looking for a target to practice his shooting against, Mark asked his brother to step in and James handled the role so well that some friends eventually went home and suggested to their father, a rec coach looking for a goalie, that he give James a try.
Since then Reimer has developed into a sound, technical goalie whose strengths are his poise, flexibility and a quick glove hand.
A fourth-round pick (No. 99) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2006 NHL Draft, Reimer made his NHL debut as a replacement for Jonas Gustavsson during a 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 20, 2010.
Reimer made his first NHL start on Jan. 1, 2011, leading the Maple Leafs to a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators. He went on to win four of his first five starts and took over as the Maple Leafs' No. 1 goalie for the remainder of his rookie season.
As a member of the Maple Leafs, Reimer never again matched the 35 starts he made as a rookie, but in 2013 he became the first goalie since Ed Belfour in 2004 to lead Toronto to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he had 3-4 record, 2.88 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
Reimer was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 27, 2016, and he appeared in one playoff game for the Sharks as a replacement for starter Martin Jones, a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
On July 1, 2016, Reimer signed a five-year contract with the Florida Panthers.
