New Sabres Goalie Is Sneaky Good Addition

The Buffalo Sabres signed veteran goaltender James Reimer to a one-year, $1 million contract earlier this offseason. Although it was one of the Sabres’ more understated moves this summer, Buffalo could benefit from it.

Reimer, 36, only adds depth between the pipes for the Sabres. He will, at the very least, provide the Sabres with a capable backup goalie in case any of the inevitable season-ending injuries occur. But he also gives them a more-than-serviceable backup option in case Devon Levi, a young player, needs a little extra time to develop with the Rochester Americans in the AHL.

Reimer demonstrated this past season that he is still a capable backup player with the Detroit Red Wings. He finished with an 11-8-2 record, a.904 save percentage (SV%), and a 3.11 goals-against average (GAA) in 25 games with the Original Six team. Furthermore, he has displayed a.900 SV% or higher in 13 of his 14 NHL seasons. Thus, he has been quite consistent throughout his career.

Reimer should be a terrific mentor to up-and-coming talents Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in addition to being useful at this stage of his career. He has established a lengthy career in the NHL, as previously mentioned, so it could be beneficial to have him nearby as the two young players continue to hone their skills.

Reimer may be a great low-risk addition for the Sabres, even with a $1 million cap hit. From here, it will be interesting to watch what kind of season he puts together for Buffalo.