James Reimer's time with the New York Rangers appears to be ending after just one start, a single period in which he was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots in 20 minutes during a home loss to Los Angeles on Oct. 26. The Rangers placed Reimer on waivers Thursday, and if he is not claimed by one of the NHL's other 31 clubs, he could be sent to Hartford of the American Hockey League.
New York signed Reimer, 38, to a contract late last month in hopes he could relieve Dylan Garand, who had been playing almost nonstop since franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin was lost for the season with a knee injury. Instead, Reimer struggled in his only chance, and Garand has appeared in 11 consecutive games. Garand posted a 1.85 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in his first six games, but his numbers have slipped to 3.50 and .877 over his past five.
Reimer going on waivers suggests Joonas Korpisalo is nearing a return from his lower-body injury. Korpisalo stopped 34 of 37 shots in a minor league rehab start with Hartford on Wednesday night. His injury during the first week of the season set this goalie carousel in motion. The Rangers had acquired him from Boston over the summer to back up Shesterkin, and Garand cleared waivers before opening night to play regularly for the AHL's Wolf Pack.
Garand was recalled when Korpisalo got hurt and became the go-to option when Shesterkin went down, making the New York Rangers' goaltending situation one of the season's most fluid storylines.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing