Top 5 low-cost goaltenders the Blackhawks can sign in NHL free agency

James Reimer will definitely be on the move following the season

If Kyle Davidson wanted to add someone with age and experience, James Reimer would be the way to go behind Petr Mrazek. Reimer, who has been with several organizations throughout his 14-year career, has been part of quite a few rebuilding projects. 

He spent his early days with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the pre-Auston Matthews era and more recently with the San Jose Sharks and the Detroit Red Wings. Reimer was supposed to be a key figure with Detroit this season, most likely as a 1B, but he’s seen his fair share of struggles. 

However, Reimer has a history of putting up solid performances when in a 1B or even a 1A role. It was something we saw earlier in his career during the 2012-13 season when he finished the year with a stellar 0.924 save percentage, a 2.46 GAA, and four shutouts, and those accolades led to a 23rd-place finish for the Hart Trophy. 

It’s been over a decade since that feat, but it also shows that Reimer can make the best out of situations with subpar or young talent. It was also something we saw in 2021-22 during his penultimate year with the San Jose Sharks, when, despite their slow decline, Reimer still put up respectable numbers.