The Ottawa Senators have signed goaltender James Reimer to a one-way contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
The deal, which comes after the Senators added the 37-year-old Reimer on an AHL tryout last week, carries a cap hit of $850,000.
Reimer was on the ice for the Senators practice on Monday morning shortly after inking the deal. Head coach Travis Green said afterwards he is not sure when Reimer will debut for the team.
Goalie James Reimer makes his first appearance at #Sens practice on Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/28c8xysfGY
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) January 12, 2026
Reimer played in 24 NHL games last season split between the Anaheim Ducks and the Buffalo Sabres. He posted a 10-10-2 record with a 3.04 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage combined in two games with the Ducks and 22 with the Sabres.
He signed a PTO with the Leafs ahead of the 2025-26 season, but was released by the team in October.
Reimer admitted Monday he wasn’t sure if he would land another NHL job.
“There’s a lot of times when you’re excited and you believe that something’s going to happen. Then there’s days when you’re a little down and you don’t know if maybe you’ve played your last game or had your last opportunity,” he said. “Super thankful and grateful that this opportunity presented itself and I’m just looking forward to making the most of it and enjoying it.”
The 525 game NHL veteran has also appeared for the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, who drafted him with the 99th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2006 NHL Draft.
Reimer has a 2.83 career GAA and has 225 wins in the NHL.
Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark took a leave of absence due to personal reasons on Dec. 28, leaving the team to lean on Leevi Merilainen, Hunter Shepard and Mads Sogaard in net in the weeks since.
Ottawa has lost four straight games and five of seven since Ullmark took his leave.
