20 minutes. That is all the time James Reimer got as a New York Ranger. The 38-year-old goaltender joined the team during an injury crisis, hoping to provide support. Instead, he got one start and a ticket to waivers. The Rangers did not wait to see if he could help.

The team initially signed James Reimer because two of its regular goaltenders, Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo, were unavailable. This left young Dylan Garand with a heavy workload. However, Korpisalo is now getting closer to a return, and the Rangers seem ready to change their goaltending plans again.

The Rangers placed Reimer on waivers on Thursday, November 5, according to the Associated Press. If none of the other 31 NHL teams claim him, New York can send him to its American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Reimer’s journey with the Rangers began on October 15, when he signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with Hartford. He quickly made an impact in the AHL by recording a 35-save shutout against Providence. According to NHL.com, this made him the oldest AHL goaltender to record a shutout since 2008.

His strong performance earned him another opportunity. On October 25, the Rangers signed him to a one-year contract worth $850,000. 

However, Reimer’s return to the NHL lasted only one period.

On October 26, he made his Rangers debut against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden. The veteran allowed three goals on eight shots in just 20 minutes. Head coach Mike Sullivan then pulled him from the game, and Dylan Garand took his place. New York eventually lost that game 6-3.

Taylor Ward and Brandt Clarke scored on the Kings’ first two shots against Reimer. Drew Doughty then added another goal before the end of the first period.

Reimer finished his only appearance for the Rangers with a 9.00 goals-against average (GAA) and a .625 save percentage.

Now, the question was, why the Rangers needed James Reimer in the first place. 

James Reimer joined the Rangers because injuries had left the team short of experienced goaltenders. Before his arrival, New York was already without its two main options.

The first major setback came when Igor Shesterkin suffered a lower-body injury during a game against the Washington Capitals on October 9. His skate got caught against the goalpost as he tried to get back into position. This caused his right leg to bend in an awkward way.

The Rangers confirmed the following day that Shesterkin would miss the rest of the 2026-27 season.

The 30-year-old had already become one of the team’s most important players. He had also won the Vezina Trophy in 2021-22.

Things became even more difficult for New York because its backup goaltender, Joonas Korpisalo, was also unavailable. According to RotoWire, Korpisalo was also dealing with a foot infection, which stopped him from making his season debut. After this, the Rangers had no choice but to turn to Dylan Garand.

Garand had initially cleared waivers before the season started. This allowed him to return to Hartford and get regular playing time.

The 24-year-old suddenly had to handle a responsibility that the team had expected two experienced NHL goaltenders to share.

Before signing Reimer, Garand had started eight straight games after Shesterkin’s injury. By the time the Associated Press published its report on November 5, Garand had appeared in 11 consecutive games.

Head coach Mike Sullivan had already spoken about the pressure on the young goaltender.

“We’re asking a lot of Dylan,” Head coach Mike Sullivan said before Reimer’s debut.

Garand initially handled the situation very well. He recorded a 1.85 GAA and a .929 save percentage in his first six games. But his numbers dropped to a 3.50 GAA and an .877 save percentage over his next five appearances.

James Reimer was supposed to give him some rest. But his difficult debut meant Garand continued to carry most of the workload.

Joonas Korpisalo’s recovery could open the door for Reimer’s exit

Now, Korpisalo’s recovery appears to be the main reason behind Reimer’s placement on waivers. He joined Hartford for a conditioning stint and stopped 34 of 37 shots against the Hershey Bears in a 4-1 loss. Despite the defeat, his return was encouraging news for New York. According to The Hockey News, Korpisalo could return during the Rangers’ upcoming four-game road trip, depending on feedback from him, the coaches, and the medical team.

“He was gonna play the (Hartford) game last night. We’ll have an opportunity to circle back and get some feedback from him. I know it went very well. I know he played very well,” Sullivan said.

Interestingly, Reimer was still listed as Garand’s backup for the November 5 game against Philadelphia, even though the Rangers had placed him on waivers earlier that day. This means the move did not immediately remove him from the team’s game-day plans.

If Reimer clears waivers, the Rangers can send him to Hartford. However, if another NHL team claims him, he could continue his career with a new franchise.

Despite his disappointing Rangers debut, Reimer has enjoyed a long NHL career. The Canadian goaltender entered the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010 after the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2006 NHL Draft.

Reimer has recorded 232 wins, 191 losses, and 67 overtime losses in 540 regular-season appearances. He also has a 2.88 GAA, a .909 save percentage, and 32 shutouts.

Throughout his NHL career, Reimer has played for eight other franchises: the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, and Ottawa Senators.

James Reimer has also played 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has recorded five wins, five losses, a 2.70 GAA, and a .925 save percentage.

As of now, Reimer has not made any publicly reported comments specifically about the Rangers placing him on waivers. But his comments after receiving the contract offer give us an idea of his mindset.

Speaking to NHL.com after signing with the Rangers, Reimer said, “I don’t need to play, I want to play.” 

Sullivan publicly supported the veteran after his difficult debut. 

“I put him in a tough spot and that’s on me,” Sullivan said.

Reimer had joined the team at short notice and needed more time to prepare before playing in such a difficult situation. Rangers initially saw Reimer as a useful addition to the team, not just an emergency option. But now, the situation is completely different. 

The Rangers have made several changes to their goaltending group during a season that has already brought mixed results. As of November 6, New York holds a 9-7-1 record with 19 points. 

New York recently ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on November 3. The Rangers then followed it up with another victory, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on November 5. The Rangers will next face the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, November 7.

For now, the team’s main focus is finding stability after losing Shesterkin for the season and spending weeks without Korpisalo. Reimer was supposed to make this difficult period easier for the Rangers. Instead, his time in New York could end after just one start.

Whether another NHL team claims him or he continues his season in Hartford, his situation has added another unexpected turn to the Rangers’ goaltending problems.

What do you think lies ahead for James Reimer after this unexpected turn in his NHL career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.