Leafs coach Mike Babcock has been giving James Reimer more time to shine, and the young goaltender has yet to disappoint. He started Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils, and it is now clear that he is the team's number one goalie.
He has had a terrific season with a league-leading .932 save percentage, which is tied with Detroit's Petr Mrazek. Reimer also has an impressive .835 "red-zone" save percentage, which is the amount of shots stopped from right in front of the net. Reimer's stat is second only to Washington's Braden Holtby, according to the Globe and Mail's James Mirtle. Toronto's second goaltender, Jonathan Bernier, only has a red-zone save percentage of .663, which is much below the league average of .755. Half the goals in the league this season have been in the red-zone, so this is an important stat to excel in. The team also does not have many goaltending options to trade for, and without a goalie, they would be hurting for a long while.
This does not guarantee the Leafs keep the soon-to-be-unrestricted free agent on board though, as they might not be willing to pay him as much as he wishes. He could still be traded before the deadline for a prospect or draft pick. General Manager Lou Lamoriello might also keep him on if the price is right and move Bernier. If not, they could try to acquire a completely new goalie by next season.
Reimer is reportedly asking for more than the Leafs would be willing to give for an extension. They might come to an agreement if Reimer reduces the term and a bit of salary. He has been more productive than Bernier, and Bernier is sitting on $4.15 million per season.
Dreger on Reimer: "If he's willing to go down to a shorter term, the money may be around that 4M $ mark. Maybe Leafs interested in that."
— Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) February 3, 2016
While he has been playing well, it is suggested that other teams still do not see him as a number one goalie.
Dreger when asked if Reimer is perceived as a number 1 elsewhere in the league: "Not yet" — Platinum Seat Ghosts (@3rdPeriodSuits) February 3, 2016
Reimer could also take in less cash because he would have the luxury of playing in his hometown and the city he loves. An extension seems likely due to this, and the fact that the Maple Leafs and Mike Babcock like Reimer is a bonus.
