Reimer embracing life in relative obscurity with Panthers
As the sometimes No. 1 goaltender of the Toronto Maple Leafs for six seasons, James Reimer’s first 188 NHL starts were picked apart in intricate detail.
Relative obscurity has greeted the 28-year-old in Florida this season where he’s quietly thrived (until recently) as the sometimes No. 1 of the Florida Panthers. Reimer’s performance no longer draws much praise or scrutiny though, but rather a comfortable quiet in a sunnier, less consequential hockey market.
“I think you probably spend less time trying to shut out the noise probably would be the best way to describe it,” Reimer said of his new life in Florida during a recent interview with The Canadian Press. “Playing in a small market you just have to worry less about some of the different stories that may be swirling around because there’s just less of them.”
Noise was constant around Reimer in Toronto, sometimes for better but often for worse.
He was at once the best hope
in the club’s crease since Ed Belfour or the inconsistent, oft-injured goaltender who couldn’t handle a starting load for disappointing teams.
Management of various stripes saw him as the latter, finally dealing him to San Jose at the trade deadline last season. The club then sent two draft picks to Anaheim for Frederik Andersen, who was a touch younger with mildly better career numbers. He was quickly signed for five years and US$25 million.
Less than two weeks later,
Florida committed five years itself and $17 million to Reimer, demonstrating instant belief in the former fourth-round pick that was only fleeting with the Leafs. He’ll have the long-term job security with the Panthers as tandem-mate and future hall of famer Roberto Luongo tiptoes closer to retirement, due to turn 38 in April.
Reimer says job security was “probably a little bit up in the air” in Toronto, where he found himself in a constant chase to demonstrate his viability as a No. 1.
“Maybe it just falls on my shoulders of not being consistent enough or who knows why that sense was always there,” Reimer said.
He added of Florida: “It’s nice to have that support behind you and (know) you can go out there and try and do your thing.”
Drafted by the Leafs in 2006, Reimer got a brief taste of what change was like when he joined the Sharks in Feb. 2016, but coming aboard with the Panthers was something else entirely. This was putting down roots almost 4,000 kilometres from his hometown of Morweena, Man., while playing under the weight of the biggest contract of his life – Reimer’s largest contract previously was worth a total of $5.4 million over three years.
“It’s kind of funny,” he said. “You sign a longer deal and you kind of get that job security so that’s kind of a weight off your shoulders per se. But at the same time with that comes the added pressure of having to maybe subconsciously try and live up to a certain contract. And at the end of the day you can’t really worry about it.”