Detroit UFA James Reimer Headed to Buffalo

Detroit Red Wings UFA goaltender James Reimer will play for the Buffalo Sabres next season

James Reimer is not done yet.

The Red Wings’ 36-year-old UFA goaltender signed a one year, two-way, $1 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, the organization announced on X (formerly Twitter). 

Reimer brings veteran experience to a Sabres goalie room full of budding talent. Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen and Devon Levi are projected to be the team’s main tandem, aged 25 and 22 respectively. With Reimer, Buffalo has someone to mentor them while being able to play at the NHL and AHL levels. 

Reimer played in 25 games, starting 20 and finishing with an 11-8-2 record. He posted a 3.11 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in that span, saving -0.03 goals above expected. He was serviceable and dependable, in a position where injuries made for uncertainty. And little exemplified that more than when he played his 500th career game in the season’s final weeks, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs team that drafted him to keep the Red Wings’ playoff hopes alive.

Now, Reimer will look to play for a Sabres team in similar rebuild territory to Detroit, with a chance to play more hockey at 36. Whether or not Buffalo has to turn to him, his time with the Red Wings showed he has the dependability to help the Sabres.

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