Even with Dylan Garand holding the fort for the New York Rangers, it was only a matter of time before the team ran thin on goaltending depth. With expected backup Joonas Korpisalo still sidelined by a lower-body injury, the Rangers turned to 38-year-old veteran James Reimer to fill the vacant backup role, signing him to a one-year contract worth $850,000. While this isn't designed to be a long-term fixture, it provides vital insurance until Korpisalo is cleared to return.
Reimer is Quite the Journeyman Goaltender
New York marks the ninth organization of Reimer's 17-year NHL career. That journey began during the 2010-11 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he spent his first six seasons before being dealt to the San Jose Sharks midway through the 2015-16 campaign.
Following that brief stop in the Bay Area, Reimer joined the Florida Panthers for a three-year stint, spent two seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, and then returned to San Jose for a second run from 2021 to 2023.
Since then, the veteran has spent time across the league with stops in Detroit, Anaheim, Buffalo, and Ottawa. With the Senators last season, Reimer appeared in 14 games, posting a 7-4-2 record alongside a 2.42 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage.
Across 539 career NHL regular-season appearances, Reimer has established a reputation as a dependable pro capable of stepping in when needed.
Rangers also pick up center Luke Glendening
Reimer was not the only veteran tryout conversion to land an NHL deal in New York this week. The Rangers also finalized an agreement with former Detroit Red Wings forward Luke Glendening, who finished last season skating in Philadelphia.
Glendening has never been counted on for high-end offensive production, but he brings a dependable two-way profile and heavy minutes where they count.
The 37-year-old Grand Rapids native is now joining his seventh NHL franchise in his 14th pro season. Glendening spent eight years in Michigan with Detroit before signing with the Dallas Stars. He followed that with stops in Tampa Bay and New Jersey before landing on Broadway.
Like Reimer, Glendening signed a one-year deal worth $850,000. He is expected to anchor the Rangers' fourth line, slotting between recent additions Eeli Tolvanen and Taylor Raddysh to give New York a sturdy, defense-first identity unit.
Reimer gets first start against Kings
Fresh off a 35-save shutout for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday, Reimer steps directly into the spotlight at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, making his official Rangers debut against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.
It is a quick turnaround for the veteran, but an essential one. Relying on an experienced netminder allows the Rangers to manage Garand's workload properly while Korpisalo works his way back from injury.
With Korpisalo currently targeting a return to action after just getting back the ice due to being sidelined with a foot infection, Reimer’s presence gives New York a proven safety net to keep the team competitive during a congested early-season schedule. It also should give the team a better option than Spencer Martin, something very important to get Garand some much needed rest when the time comes.
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