JAMES REIMER (#34) – G  

Date of Birth: March 15, 1988

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 208lbs | Catches: Left

Drafted: Toronto's 3rd Choice, 99th Overall, in 2006

Price Tag: AHL $62,500 | NHL $555,000

Signed Through: 2011

2009/2010 Stats| 24 games | 14 wins | 2.25 gaa | 0.925 sv% | 1 shutout |

Career Notes:  

• Tied for 5^th in WHL during the 07/08 season with a .916 save percentage
• Named the 2009 ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs MVP with the South Carolina Stingrays
• Made his AHL debut in a winning effort on Dec 27^th 2008 vs. Manitoba
• Recalled to NHL Maple Leafs from Oct 14-25 2009, but did not play
• Stopped 31 shots to register his first AHL shutout on Feb 20^th 2010 vs. Manitoba
• Winner of the Marlies 2009/2010 Fans Choice Award

Scouting Profile

Strengths:  

You name it, Reimer seems to have it. He brings a great mixture of positioning and acrobatics to the Marlies with a solid determination to never give up on the puck. His height works to his advantage while in the butterfly, evident by his exceptional post-to-post coverage. He has an impressive glove hand and an active stick. James’ mild personality keeps his emotions from getting the best of him after either a win or a loss.  

Weaknesses:  

Reimer, as with many young goaltenders, still needs to improve on some of the finer details of his game. James often stops the hearts of the coaching staff by kicking rebounds up the ice and into the slot, and will no doubt spend time with Leafs goaltending coach, Francoise Allaire, during the summer to further correct this. Reimer must also further tune his judgement as to when to leave his crease and play the puck. Though he may have learned his lesson after being run by a Binghamton Senators forward in late November resulting in a high ankle sprain that kept him out of action for the next 34 games.  

IMO:

Reimer is Toronto’s best kept secret. His playoff stint with the ECHL Stingrays did wonders for his confidence allowing him to enter training camp far more focused than during his first taste of the AHL in 08/09. His gradual development through the ranks, playing his full term in junior, a season in the ECHL followed by a season backing up MacDonald, has created a goaltender better prepared for professional play than I have seen before in the Toronto system. 

Despite his abundance of talent and poise, speculation still abounds over Reimer’s future with the Leafs organization. With the recent signings of Jussi Rynnas and Ben Scrivens, it would not be a surprise if Reimer is moved during the off-season. Regardless of the jersey he wears, James has a bright future in the NHL. He has earned an AHL starting position for next season and, if he stays in the Leafs organization, should see his first NHL start during the 11/12 season.  

Quote It:

Playing in the AHL vs. the ECHL:

“They’re better players and they know how to score, so you really have to be on top of your angles and on top of your crease and really cut down the net that they see and just rely on your reaction after that.” 

Keeping game ready in practice while rehabbing from an injury:

“It’s hard to try and stay focussed for long periods of time through multiple shots but that’s what you have to work on, you have to take every drill as a game situation and picture yourself making every save and trying with every shot.”

Favourite goaltender growing up:

“When I was collecting cards i was a Mike Richter fan, but when i got watching hockey a little more seriously when I was 12 or 13 it turned into Eddie Belfour.”

YouTube It:

Reimer Talks to the Media During the Leafs Prospect Camp

Reimer on Behind The Bench