James Reimer’s New York Rangers Tenure Takes Sudden Turn As Veteran Goalie Lands On Waivers

Reimer with head bowed after being pulled during his only NHL start© Getty via AFP

The New York Rangers placed veteran goaltender James Reimer on waivers Thursday, and the numbers explain the move. In his only NHL appearance this season, Reimer allowed three goals on eight shots against the Los Angeles Kings, lasting just 20 minutes. That works out to a 9.00 goals-against average and a .625 save percentage. With backup Joonas Korpisalo nearing a return from injury, New York acted quickly. The whole Rangers stint, start to finish, lasted less than two weeks of actual action.

Reimer Paid the Price for a Brutal First Start

With Igor Shesterkin out for the season and Korpisalo sidelined for weeks, the Rangers had turned to Reimer as insurance between the pipes. He earned the call-up. In Hartford, Reimer made 35 saves in a shutout victory before being signed and promoted to the New York roster. The deal carried a pro-rated cap hit of $850,000 for the 2026-27 season.

Then came the Kings game at Madison Square Garden. Reimer allowed goals on each of the first two shots he faced and was pulled shortly after conceding a third. For a 38-year-old goalie who had survived 16 NHL seasons on reputation and resilience, it was a rough way to go.

Head coach Mike Sullivan had spoken warmly about the signing when it was announced. “He has a body of work in the League, has proven to be a very competent goalie and given the circumstances that we're in, I think (general manager Chris Drury) felt like he could give us some help in that regard,” Sullivan said via NHL.com. “Dylan has had a heavy workload, so we're trying to assimilate ‘Rimes' into the mix here. We'll talk with the coaches (goaltending coach Jeff Malcolm) and Rimes and figure out a game plan.”

That game plan did not last long.

What Comes Next for Reimer

Reimer will still serve as Dylan Garand's backup against Philadelphia on Thursday, per Rangers beat writer Mollie Walker, so he has not been shown the door entirely. Not yet. But the waiver wire is a clear signal of the organization's direction.

Reimer carries a career record of 232-191-67 with a 2.88 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage, and 32 shutouts across 540 NHL games. There is no shame in that resume. Any team that claims him off waivers gets a veteran who knows how to handle a backup role and a locker room.

What makes this story a bit different is the compressed timeline. The Rangers signed Reimer on October 25, and by November 5 he was back on the market. Eleven days. One period of actual NHL hockey. That is the brutal math of a roster built for urgency, where Korpisalo's return made Reimer instantly expendable. No one can say the Rangers misjudged his ability. The Kings game was one of those nights that happens to even competent goalies. The roster numbers just did not give him room to recover.