Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Flyers traded goaltender Ivan Fedotov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The move made sense, as Fedotov stood out as the odd man out for the Flyers' NHL roster.

Yet, Fedotov is now available for the taking. According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Fedotov has been placed on waivers by the Blue Jackets. 

Placed on NHL waivers today: Ivan Fedotov (CBJ), Liam Foudy (NYI), Julien Gauthier (NYI), Cole McWard (NYI), Gavin Mitchell (NYI), Kevin Connaughton (UTA), Calle Rosen (WSH) and Spencer Smallman (WSH).

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 26, 2025

Fedotov being placed on waivers comes after the former Flyer stopped 24 out of 25 shots in the Blue Jackets' Sep. 23 preseason matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.  He also made 14 saves on 15 shots against the St. Louis Blues in his first preseason appearance for Columbus on Sep. 21. Thus, he certainly performed well this preseason, but it was not enough for him to avoid being placed on waivers. 

Fedotov is under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season, where he carries a $3.275 million cap hit. 

Fedotov was selected by the Flyers with the 188th overall pick of the NHL Entry Draft. In 29 games over two seasons with Philly, he posted a 6-14-5 record, a .874 save percentage, and a 3.29 goals-against average. 

One piece of the Isaac Howard and Sam O'Reilly trade is back in the OHL, while the other is staying in the NHL.

We won't fully understand the impact of the 1-for-1 trade between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers for a few years, but one piece will be staying at the NHL level, while the other is heading back to the OHL.

On Wednesday, the Lightning sent Sam O'Reilly back to the OHL's London Knights for his third year.

Meanwhile, Howard, who scored in the Oilers' 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, will have a role on opening night in the Oilers' lineup.

Where exactly he will be in the lineup is yet to be determined, according to Oilers radio play-by-play voice Cam Moon. But it's obvious what he can bring to the roster.

"You can see the tremendous skill level that he has, and I know it's a big jump from the NCAA to the National Hockey League," Moon said. "There's going to be an adjustment period, I'm sure, but again, what we've seen is only a small snippet.

"We don't have a huge sample size right now, but in the small sample size, a great level of skill, has a nose for the net, as you'd expect, and that is something I will look at. I'm sure Oilers fans everywhere will look at in the future as we look ahead as he continues to be an offensive player."

O'Reilly spending another year in London isn't a bad thing, either, Moon said. His time at the highest level will come with a little more growth in an organization that can wait on him, while Howard's time at Michigan State has shown that he can jump into NHL-level situations in 2025-26. 

"Ike Howard looks like he's farther along in his development and more NHL-ready right now, where a guy like Sam O'Reilly, who I don't doubt will be an NHL player also, but just not right now," Moon said. "There's a little more development to be had. I think this is one of those deals where it works well for both teams and both players."

Watch Avry Lewis-McDougall's latest video column for more.

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The Los Angeles Kings made some additional roster moves earlier today as the preseason is coming to a wrap in just a week. LA is loaning defenseman Jared Woollley to the London Knights (OHL) and returning defenseman Henry Brzustewicz to the same junior club. 

The @LAKings announced the following training camp roster moves:

- Defenseman Jared Woolley has been loaned to London (OHL).
- Defenseman Henry Brzustewicz has been returned to London (OHL). pic.twitter.com/gWDTHuJN3y

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) September 25, 2025

Both players will return to the Ontario Hockey League, where they will continue their development under the Kings and are expected to play significant roles for the London team until they are called back up to the NHL. 

The moves are part of the assignments and cuts that the Kings are required to make and trim down before the start of opening night. 

With less than two weeks left until the regular season begins, and the Kings looking very solid in the preseason, Los Angeles is narrowing down its roster to the group of players who are fit to be ready when the season starts. 

Both Woolley and Brzustewicz are still very young and lack the experience to play in the NHL yet. Even if they were ready to play for the Kings, it would still be tough because of the presence of all the veterans, and the rest of the team has significantly more experience on the ice compared to them. 

The depth chart and many of the positions, including defense, right and left wings, etc., are very competitive and deep for significantly younger players like Wooley and Brzustewicz, making them viable options to be considered.

Veteran players like Drew Doughty, Cody Ceci, Joel Edmundson, and Brian Dumoulin will still be on the roster, anchoring the defensive side. 

The other players, who also have experience, such as Brandt Clarke and Mikey Anderson, will be there for the foreseeable future. Therefore, it was always very unlikely that both Brzustewicz and Woolley would make the cut. 

For the Kings, sending players like Woolley and Brzuteswicz back to London allows them to continue developing them in the Ontario Hockey League while the Kings figure out what they're going to do with their roster in the future. 

There will be a new voice on Vancouver Canucks broadcasts this season. The Canucks have announced that former NHL defenceman Tyson Barrie will be joining regional home broadcasts on Sportsnet for the 2025-26 season. According to the press release, Barrie will make his debut on Friday, September 26, 2025.

The press release also featured a statement from Barrie, which said, "Growing up on Vancouver Island, I always thought it would be special to finish my career with the Canucks. While my playing days ended elsewhere, I'm grateful for the chance to start this new chapter with a great organization so close to home. I've always embraced the lighter side of the game, and I'm excited to bring years of insight and lots of laughs to the broadcast!"

Barrie played 822 regular-season games in the NHL. He scored 110 goals while recording 508 points over his 14-year career. Barrie played for the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, as well as the Kelowna Rockets during his time in the WHL. 

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Vancouver plays their first home game at Rogers Arena during the 2025 pre-season on September 26 when they takes on the Seattle Kraken. The Canucks are 1-1-0 so far in the pre-season, which includes a loss to the Kraken. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm and will be broadcast on Sportsnet. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

When Joel Quenneville was hired by the Anaheim Ducks and brought in his new coaching staff, much of the discussion centered on how beneficial he, Jay Woodcroft, and Ryan McGill would be to the current and future rosters.

The brand new systems, specifically defensive zone coverage, where the Ducks had struggled mightily over the past three seasons, finishing in the basement in every traditional and advanced statistical category, could have the most impact on the upcoming season.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: An Open Spot in the Top Nine

Preseason: Takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Los Angeles Kings

Switching from a man-to-man scheme to a pressure-zone was an imperative adjustment, as the roster construction was more suited for it. In Theory, those poised to benefit most from a system that relies more on off-puck reads, instincts, and knowledge of where support is coming from are centers like Ryan Strome and Mason McTavish, as well as defensemen like Drew Helleson and Pavel Mintyukov.

Perhaps overlooked in the “who will benefit most” conversation is the newly dubbed and paid franchise goaltender, Lukas Dostal.

Dostal (25) has emerged as one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL and has posted impressive numbers despite the Ducks’ poor defensive metrics over the past two seasons. The Ducks awarded him with a five-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $6.5 million.

In his first two full seasons in the NHL (2023-24 and 2024-25), Dostal notched a 34-46-10 record, a roughly league-average .902 SV%, and 7.83 goals saved above expected. Those numbers are made all the more impressive considering, in that time, he led NHL goaltenders (min. 50 games played) with 32.73 shots against per 60 minutes and was third in high-danger shots against per 60 with 8.72 (John Gibson led the NHL with 8.86).

Dostal’s game is built on sound positional fundamentals, remaining calm in the midst of flurries in front, and the ability to track pucks throughout the offensive zone and through traffic.

The new zone defensive system should (mostly) guarantee that against a sustained cycle, the net front will be covered at all times. It’s also designed to limit the number of times defenders are outnumbered near the crease, effectively keeping most shot opportunities to the perimeter of the zone.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-0 Loss to the Kings

“I personally like it because, for the goalies, I believe it’s more predictable,” Dostal said following his half-game preseason debut against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. “You kind of know all sides of the team and what you’re giving up. Nothing is 100%, but I think it’s more predictable.

“I personally like the system because it’s something we always played in Czech, we played it on the Czech national team when I was growing up, even in Finland. It’s something I’m used to.”

That familiarity and predictability have allowed Dostal to focus efforts on developing other parts of his game during the offseason, particularly his rebound control. In his first action of the preseason (it’s just preseason, so a grain of salt is required), he elevated his game management skills to another level and was easily deflecting shots, especially perimeter shots, to the safety of the corners. Dostal saved 17 of 18 total shots he faced in that game.

“Sometimes you have games where the puck sticks to your chest better than other games, but that’s been something that I’ve worked on this summer,” Dostal added after the game when asked about his rebound control. “The last two seasons in the NHL showed me the guys are crashing the net quite a lot, so it’s something that I worked on this offseason to eliminate the rebounds and something I really focused on.”

Dostal’s numbers wavered slightly toward the end of last season, especially when Gibson was healthy and it was unclear game-to-game who would get the start each night. This season, that aspect will be nullified, as Dostal is the clear #1 option in Anaheim, and the schedule and roles will be more defined and predictable.

Dostal is primed for a big season, and if the Ducks achieve or come close to their goal of making the 2026 playoffs, it can be assumed that Dostal stayed healthy had a large hand in that outcome. He could perhaps even receive end-of-season award recognition.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle

News broke on Friday morning that Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will be having surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss the entire 2024-25 season: 

Andy Slater (@AndySlater) on XExtremely tough news for the Florida Panthers. Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss the entire season after being injured during practice on Thursday, I've learned.

It's a devastating blow for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, who are already dealing with Matthew Tkachuk being sidelined until December. 

While replacing Barkov and what he brings is impossible, general manager Bill Zito has demonstrated that he knows how to fill holes and improve a team.

The Panthers, like most Stanley Cup winners, boast center depth with players such as Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, and Luke Kunin. 

What they are really missing with Barkov out is that shutdown defensive center, which brings us to the New York Islanders and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The 32-year-old center is entering the final season of a five-year deal worth $5 million annually, and his defensive style is exactly what the Panthers are now going to be missing from their lineup. 

Is general manager Mathieu Darche, who told inquiring teams ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft that he was not moving Pageau, ready to move No. 44? 

Darche made it clear that he wants to evaluate this roster before making moves. Pageau can win face-offs, play a responsible brand of hockey at 5-on-5, and play on a top penalty kill, so his value won't be higher than what it will be at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. 

Now, of course, there are always risks to holding onto an asset, whether that's poor play, injuries, or teams acquiring a player of the same position. 

The other question is how much Calum Ritchie's performance at training camp has changed Darche's mindset?

Calum Ritchie Continues Making Waves In Bid for Islanders Roster SpotNEW YORK, NY -- The chances of New York Islanders prospect Calum Ritchie making the team out of training camp are slim -- it's not zero. 

Ritchie is showing himself to be NHL-ready rather quickly. And like with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, Ritchie's skating ability is showing to become a game-changer. 

The chances of Ritchie making the team are slim because there's no center ice spot for him unless a player like Casey Cizikas or even Pageau moves to the wing. But, with the belief that Anders Lee, Anthony Duclair, and Maxim Tsyplakov are ready to go for opening night -- at least two of the three, as we haven't heard much about Tsyplakov's injury -- what winger is coming out of the lineup?

However, if the Islanders do move Pageau, that opens the door for Ritchie to be an everyday player, while not having to put the pressure of being a No. 2 center on him, at least not yet. 

Moving Pageau is not simple, though. The Islanders could likely net two second-round picks, clearing $5 million off the books. Even with Ritchie showcasing a firm defensive game, Pageau was the No. 1 face-off man in the NHL, winning 59.6% of his draws, while also playing on the top penalty-kill unit. 

Pageau does have a 15-team no-trade clause, but it would be a shock if Florida were on it. 

The Islanders have three preseason games remaining before their rosters are due, and a potential Pageau trade hinges on Ritchie's readiness. If the Islanders feel that Ritchie is close but could use 30 or so games learning from Rocky Thompson in Bridgeport, Pageau isn't going anywhere. 

Florida is likely calling many teams at this time, and with Barkov's $10 million AAV likely hitting long-term injured reserve, the Panthers will have the cap space to acquire the top names available. 

The best general managers are always the most opportunistic general managers -– much as we’ve seen the Tampa Bay Lightning operate over the years, with Jake Guentzel being the latest for them. 

Do the Panthers call Darche? Do they look at their team and think that they can be okay until at least the deadline before making moves? 

Time will tell as we await a further update on Barkov. 

The Red Wings play their third preseason game in a back-to-back on Friday when taking on a longtime rival in the Pittsburgh Penguins.  

The Detroit Red Wings play their second leg of a back-to-back on Friday when taking on a rival from the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals in the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rivalry has cooled down over the last 16 years as they are separated by divisions but they still regularly meet in the preseason with Red Wings holding a 8-4-0 record over their last 12 exhibition matchups versus the Penguins dating back to 2018.

Game #3 in Pittsburgh!

📺 → @FanDuelSN_DETpic.twitter.com/qls7mLbai7

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 26, 2025

Fans may get a treat in this one as Pittsburgh is expected to play their regular starting goaltender in Tristan Jarry. It'll be quite the test for the Red Wings as they'll be playing just a day removed after beating the Sabres 5-2 at home on Thursday. They will now have to travel four hours and 13 minutes over 285 miles to Pittsburgh and will see some players experience a tough back-to-back. 

Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on XTonight #LGRW

Detroit is likely to roll out a different-looking lineup than they did on Thursday, shifting toward a more prospect-heavy group rather than the veteran-focused roster used against Buffalo.

Unfortunately, several exciting young players may sit this one out, as Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Nate Danielson, Carter Mazur, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard have each appeared in both preseason games so far and are unlikely to play a third in a row. In a bit of a surprise, prospect Emmitt Finnie will suit up for his third consecutive preseason game and will look to build on his strong start, having notched a goal and an assist through his first two outings.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Fans should watch for the return of NHL regulars J.T. Compher and Jonatan Berggren, who sat out Thursday’s game but will rejoin the lineup. Meanwhile, forward Elmer Soderblom will take on the uncommon challenge of playing both ends of a back-to-back, having suited up Thursday and notched an assist. On the prospect side, Carter Bear and William Wallinder were also held out on Thursday and could be reinserted for Friday’s matchup. 

In between the pipes, we may finally see former all-star goaltender John Gibson in his first action with the Red Wings as prospects Michal Postava and Sebastian Cossa have started in the first two preseason games and clears the net for Gibson. It could prove to be a crucial game in the position battle for starting goaltender as Detroit bench boss Todd McLellan hasn't named his No. 1 just yet. 

Potential Third Line of Copp and Appleton Drives Red Wings to 5-2 Preseason Win Over SabresDetroit forwards Andrew Copp and Mason Appleton show preview of third line, helping lead the Red Wings to a decisive 5-2 win over the Sabres in their second preseason game.

Gibson appeared in 29 games (28 starts) for the Ducks last season, finishing with an 11-11-2 record, slightly behind Talbot’s win-loss mark but on a weaker team. Despite that, he posted stronger numbers, with a 2.77 goals-against average (GAA) and a .912 save percentage, compared to Talbot’s 2.93 GAA and .901 save percentage. 

The Red Wings Radio Network, including WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit, will broadcast Friday’s exhibition matchup as Detroit and Pittsburgh drop the puck at 7 p.m. Fans can also stream the game live on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App.

Click Here if you want to check out more expanded storylines on the Red Wings training camp roster.   

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The Buffalo Sabres allowed three straight second-period goals in a 5-2 loss to the Red Wings in Detroit on Thursday, with a lineup fairly thin on players expected to be in the NHL come early next month. Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan scored power-play goals, and Alexandar Georgiev had a busy night facing 40 Wings shots. 

Head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update on some of the injured players after practice on Friday. Winger Alex Tuch, who has been a participant in practice most of the week, has been given the all-clear and will be in the lineup against Detroit on Saturday afternoon. Ruff was less certain of the status of winger Jiri Kulich, who left practice on Thursday morning with a muscle tweak. 

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Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen practiced for the second day in a row on Friday, increasing his chances of getting in action next week in one of the two remaining pre-season games. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson was not on the ice on Friday after what Ruff described as an upper-body injury. 

"He couldn't practice today, so we'll have to evaluate him. He had a good practice yesterday, and maybe that affected him.”

Alex Lyon will play the entire game against his former club on Saturday. In other news, former Detroit and Buffalo goalie James Reimer has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a professional tryout contract. The 37-year-old had a 10-8-2 record in 22 games with the Sabres last season, with a 2.85 GAA and .901 save %.

The club also announced that they have sent defenseman Noah Laberge and goalie Ryerson Leenders back to their junior clubs. Laberge was the Sabres fifth-round pick (135th overall) in the 2025 Draft, while Leenders was selected in the seventh round (219th overall) of the 2024 Draft 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Following his first action of the preseason in the Gold Star Showcase on Thursday, Nashville Predators 2025 21st overall pick Cameron Reid has been reassigned to the Kitchener Rangers (OHL). 

In addition, defenseman Scott Harrington has been released from his professional tryout agreement. The Predators' training camp roster is now down to 52 players: 29 forwards, 17 defensemen and six goaltenders.   

Reid, who was injured in the Predators' final game of the Prospect Tournament on Sept. 15 against the Florida Panthers, returned to practice on Wednesday and saw his first live action of the preseason in Thursday's intersquad scrimmage at the Gold Star Showcase. 

His reassignment comes 24 hours before the Predators' weekend slate of preseason road games against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday) and the Carolina Hurricanes (Sunday). 

Last season, Reid scored an impressive 54 points in 67 games and logged 44 penalty minutes with the Kitchener Rangers. He was also invited to play in the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge, where he was named Team West MVP. 

There was also an injury update ahead of Friday's practice as Matthew Wood was absent after leaving Thursday's scrimmage early with an undisclosed injury. 

This is the second injury that the Predators are dealing with in the preseason, as Nicolas Hague suffered an upper-body injury in the Predators' game against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 21 and is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks. 

Defenseman Tanner Molendyk and forward Zachary L'Heureux both returned to the ice on Wednesday after not playing the first week of training camp due to injury. 

The Florida Panthers are going to be without their captain for an extended period of time.

On Thursday, Sasha Barkov suffered a serious knee injury during his first official practice of training camp.

While cutting toward the net with the puck, Barkov’s knee appeared to give out and the 30-year-old collapsed onto the ice.

Video of the play was captured by WPLG Local 10 and can be seen in the X post below:

Here's video of Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov going down today at practice... https://t.co/g32uLiJzjkpic.twitter.com/QIAamOdqzd

— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) September 25, 2025

He did not put any weight on his right leg as two trainers helped him to the locker room.

THN Florida has since learned that Barkov’s injury will require surgery and as a result, he’s expected to be out for at least the regular season.

The Panthers are already going to be without Matthew Tkachuk and Tomas Nosek, both of whom are not expected back until early 2026.

During Friday’s practice, Florida’s forward lines had a bit of a new look without Barkov at the top.

Sam Bennett was seen centering Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues skated between Jesper Boqvist and Mackie Samoskevich.

The Panthers third line from last year’s postseason, with Anton Lundell centering Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand, remained intact.

Florida will resume its preseason on Monday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

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Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) skates between play during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that top prospect David Reinbacher will be out for the next four weeks due to a broken metacarpal bone. 

This is certainly rough news for Reinbacher, as the right-shot defenseman will now be sidelined until at least late October. Furthermore, this injury now means he will not return to game action for the remainder of the preseason with the Canadiens.  

Le défenseur David Reinbacher (fracture de l’os métacarpien) ratera quatre semaines d’activité.

Defenseman David Reinbacher (broken metacarpal bone) will be out for four weeks. pic.twitter.com/rYZ9X9Lx13

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 26, 2025

Reinbacher suffered his injury during the Canadiens' preseason matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sep. 25. 

Reinbacher was selected by the Canadiens with the fifth-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-2 defenseman is considered one of the Canadiens' best prospects and has a very bright future with the Original Six club. 

Reinbacher appeared in 10 regular-season games this past season with the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, where he recorded two goals, three assists, five points, and a plus-5 rating. He then played in 13 playoff games with Laval this past spring, recording two goals and six points. 

Goaltender James Remier joined the Toronto Maple Leafs on a professional tryout 19 years since they drafted him and 10 seasons since he last played for them.

The 37-year-old netminder has played in parts of 15 NHL seasons in his career, and this tryout may earn him another contract.

Reimer was selected 99th overall by Toronto in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. He played his first NHL season in 2010-11 and remained a Leaf until he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in February 2016.

He’s been a journeyman over the last three seasons, playing for four different NHL clubs and being claimed off waivers twice in just over a month between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres early last season.

Reimer was a backup goalie last season, making 24 appearances, including two for the Ducks and 22 for the Sabres. Between the two teams, Reimer put up a 10-10-2 record, .896 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average.

Reimer could be a veteran in the Maple Leafs’ goaltending depth while Joseph Woll is taking a leave of absence to deal with a personal matter.

There’s no timeline for when Woll will return. Dennis Hildeby, 24, was set to be the backup goalie to Anthony Stolarz. However, between Hildeby’s inexperience and Stolarz’s injury history, there is plenty of uncertainty that needs to be settled with the Maple Leafs.

‘Optimus Reim’ was a huge fan favorite during his early years in Toronto. With that, he had the best numbers in his career in his six seasons with the team.

His best season statistically came in the 2012-13 half-lockout campaign. In 31 starts, he earned a 19-8-5 record with a .924 SP and 2.46 GAA. Later, Reimer led the Leafs to the playoffs after missing the post-season for seven straight years.

In their seven-game series with the Boston Bruins, Reimer stood out for Toronto, registering a .923 SP and 2.87 GAA. However, that series would end in Boston’s way – and in famous fashion, when the Leafs blew a 4-1 lead in TD Garden and lost in overtime.

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Former Red Wings backup goaltender James Reimer signs PTO with Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday

Veteran goaltender James Reimer has come full circle, signing a professional tryout agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, sources confirm. If he performs well in camp, he could rejoin the organization that drafted him nearly two decades ago.

Reimer, hailing from Morweena, Manitoba, has seen his journeyman career take him through six NHL franchises in Toronto, San Jose, Florida, Carolina, Detroit, Anaheim, and Buffalo. 

Reimer's Recent Numbers

• 2022‑23 (San Jose): 12‑21‑8 record, 3.48 goals‑against average (GAA), .890 save percentage, 3 shutouts in 43 games
• 2021‑22 (San Jose): 19‑17‑10, 2.90 GAA, .911 SV% in 48 games
• 2023‑24 (Detroit Red Wings): 11‑8‑2 record, 3.11 GAA, .904 SV% in 25 games
• 2024‑25 (Anaheim, Buffalo): 10‑10‑2, 3.04 GAA, .897 SV% (1 shutout) in 24 games 

Reimer’s most recent prominent NHL role was with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023‑24 season, where he posted that 11‑8‑2 mark with a 3.11 GAA and a .904 save percentage across 25 games. He would go on to split time between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres last season before going unsigned into this off-season as a now 37-year-old netminder. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

His roots in Toronto run deep as Reimer was originally drafted in the fourth round, 99th overall, by the Maple Leafs in 2006. He broke into the NHL with Toronto during the 2010‑11 season, eventually stepping into a starting role. Over his career against the Red Wings, Reimer posted a record of 6-8-4 with a goals against average of 2.70 and a save percentage of .905 through 20 starts. 

One of his best seasons in a Leafs uniform came in 2012‑13, when he posted a .924 save percentage and a 2.46 GAA in 33 appearances, helping guide Toronto back to the playoffs after a long drought. 

He left Toronto in 2016 as part of a trade but remains a beloved figure among Leafs fans, with many sentimental moments along the way. Reimer was given the nickname 'Optimus Reim' for his leadership within the Maple Leafs locker room as well as his helmet designs that regularly incorporated the character Optimus Prime from the Transformers franchise. 

For Toronto, bringing in Reimer on a PTO represents a veteran safety net during training camp, someone familiar with the organization and able to push younger netminders. For Reimer, the move offers a chance to revive his NHL career in a familiar setting.

Over his career, Reimer has appeared in over 500 NHL games, compiling a career 2.88 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

"Hell Of A Shooter": Todd McLellan Praises Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård may be more known for his hard-nosed approach to the game, but he gave Red Wings fans a demonstration of his offensive abilities as well on Thursday night. 

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James Reimer is back in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform.

The 37-year-old goaltender has signed a professional tryout with the Maple Leafs. The signing comes days after Joseph Woll took a leave of absence from the team to attend to a personal family matter.

Reimer played 24 games in the NHL last season, split between the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks. He tallied 10 wins and a .896 save percentage. The netminder has played 15 seasons in the NHL, with the Maple Leafs, Sabres, Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Detroit Red Wings.

The last time he played for the Maple Leafs was during the 2015-16 season, where he tallied nine wins and a .918 save percentage in 32 games. Reimer was then traded to the Sharks with Jeremy Morin for Alex Stalock, Ben Smith, and a conditional fourth-round pick.

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Riemer was originally drafted in the fourth round (99th overall) during the 2006 NHL Draft. The last time he played the Maple Leafs was on Apr. 13, 2024, with the Red Wings. He helped Detroit get the 5-4 overtime win, stopping 32 of 36 shots.

Toronto now has four goaltenders on their training camp roster: Anthony Stolarz, Reimer, Dennis Hildeby, and Artur Akhtyamov. Reimer wasn’t on the ice with the team’s main group for practice on Friday.

Craig Berube explains the addition of Reimer

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube cautioned against making anything more of Woll's situation with the addition of Reimer, citing the only reason for the move was "depth".

"Just (that) he's an NHL goalie. Been an NHL goalie, but, I've never met the guy," Berube said on Friday.

Maple Leafs teammates react to Reimer's addition

Morgan Rielly, Toronto's longest tenured Maple Leaf, weighed in on being teammates with Reimer again.

"He's been around for so long now. That doesn't just happen," Rielly said of Reimer's NHL career. "He's been working really hard. He's obviously a great goalie. And it's just cool to see him back in the building."

William Nylander was in the Leafs organization during Reimers tenure, but the two never played together. Nylander was called up to make his Leafs and NHL debut just days after Reimer was traded by the Maple Leafs to the San Jose Sharks 

"Just an amazing guy. It's great to see him playing," Nylander said. "He's been here and coming back, so it's going to be a lot of fun to have him back in the squad."

Anthony Stolarz, who will work with Reimer between the pipes, pointed to Reimer's unique style of goaltending as something he's eager to pick up on.

"His patience was something that I noticed. So I'm looking forward to seeing him in here and getting to work with him."

When might Reimer play with the Leafs?

The Maple Leafs have three pre-season games remaining, and it sounds like Stolarz is going to appear in 1-2 of those games. Reimer is a solid candidate to get into action for Toronto's final pre-season game against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 4. Depending on how long it takes the goaltender to get up to speed, it could happen earlier.

Reimer is expected to the join the Leafs on the ice on Saturday.

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