Rangers sign veteran Reimer to one-year deal amid goalie injuries

The New York Rangers signed James Reimer, 38, to a one-year, $850,000 deal on October 25, 2026, after Hartford released him from an AHL professional tryout. Two days earlier he stopped 35 shots in a 2-0 Wolf Pack win over Providence. The club confirmed the signing on its official account about 30 minutes after Mollie Walker reported it. Igor Shesterkin is out for the season following knee surgery; Joonas Korpisalo is sidelined (foot infection per SI; lower-body injury in other accounts). Rookie Dylan Garand has started since, going 4-4-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .900 save percentage while New York sits 7-5-1, second in the Metropolitan Division after two straight losses. Spencer Martin had been the backup and allowed three goals in a relief outing against the Devils; Matthew Robertson was recalled and quickly reassigned to the AHL. Reimer went 7-4-2 with a 2.42 GAA in 14 games for Ottawa in 2025-26; outlets differ on his save percentage (.884 SI, .886 TSN). He has 539 career NHL games (232-191-67, .909 SV%, 2.87 GAA) and is joining his ninth team, tying Cam Talbot for the most by a goalie. Coverage presents him as veteran depth expected to back up Garand and ease the rookie's workload. How starts split once Korpisalo is healthy remains open.