Ottawa's hockey brain trust has a lot on its plate this summer, but one of the quieter — and potentially most important — decisions involves who lines up behind the starter in net.
The case for running it back with James Reimer as the Ottawa Senators' backup goaltender is more compelling than it might first appear, and it's a conversation gaining traction as the offseason gets underway.
The Value of a Known Commodity
In a league where backup goaltending can make or break a team's playoff push, familiarity matters. Reimer is a seasoned NHL veteran who brings a steady, professional presence to any locker room he occupies. He knows his role, he embraces it, and he doesn't create headaches — qualities that are worth more than they show up on a stat sheet.
For a young Ottawa team still building its identity, having a calm, experienced hand in the backup crease provides the kind of mentorship that younger goaltenders benefit from enormously. That cultural value is easy to underestimate until it's gone.
The Market Reality
The NHL backup goaltender market is notoriously unpredictable. Teams routinely overpay for unproven options or gamble on reclamation projects, only to find themselves scrambling when the starter gets nicked up in February. Reimer represents a known quantity at what should be a manageable cap hit — a rare combination in today's market.
For a Senators organization that is trying to be smart with its cap space while also building around its core, locking up a reliable backup without breaking the bank is exactly the kind of asset management that separates contenders from pretenders.
What He Brings to the Ice
Reimer has spent years proving he can win NHL games when called upon. He's not going to steal the job from the starter, but he's capable of keeping the team afloat through a stretch of tough scheduling or injury. That's all you need from a backup — competence, reliability, and the ability to give your starter a meaningful rest without giving away points in the standings.
For Ottawa, which has aspirations of pushing deeper into playoff contention, those spot starts matter. Every point counts in the Eastern Conference, and a backup who can bank a few wins in March can be the difference between home ice and a first-round exit.
The Intangibles
There's also something to be said for continuity. Reimer already knows the system, the staff, and the culture in Ottawa. Bringing in a new face costs time — time in training camp, time building trust with the coaching staff, time adjusting to a new city. Re-signing Reimer skips all of that and lets the team hit the ground running come September.
It's not the flashiest move. It won't dominate the headlines the way a big free-agent signing would. But smart teams are built on exactly these kinds of quiet, sensible decisions — and right now, running it back with James Reimer looks like one of the smarter plays Ottawa could make.
Source: Yahoo Sports Canada via Google News
