Reimer Disappointed He Wasn’t Traded to Contender

The perpetually sunny James Reimer was downcast that the San Jose Sharks could not move him to a contender.

“I mean, obviously, the goal is to win a Cup. That’s been the goal since I was three years old,” Reimer admitted after the Trade Deadline passed. “It’s unfortunate, [it] didn’t come to fruition.”

The 34-year-old has struggled this season with both performance and staying healthy. In 31 starts, he owns a record of 9-16-6 with a .892 save percentage and 3.35 GAA, significantly down numbers from last season. He’s also missed time because of a couple of minor injuries.

Reimer indicated that to his knowledge, a trade was never close. San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier confirmed this.

“I think it wasn’t the right opportunity for him or right places for him,” Grier explained of the trade possibilities that did arise, adding, “It’s always difficult to move goalies this time of year.”

Grier noted that once goalies like Jonathan Quick and Joonas Korpisalo were moved, there just wasn’t a big market for goaltenders.

Reimer appears quick to turn the page though.

Although he is disappointed not to be moved to a contender, by no means does that mean he is unhappy in San Jose. He told the media that the San Jose Sharks organization has been nothing but good to him, and he is happy to play with pride and passion every time he puts on the teal sweater.

“I’m just happy to be able to come to the rink and play the game,” he said.

As for the goalie plan for the rest of the season, Grier had this to say: “[David] Quinn and Thomas Speer have done a good job kind of riding the hot hand. [Kaapo Kahkonen’s] game has come along and picked up, and he’s run with it a little bit. I think that’s put some good competitive pressure on Reimer to keep up. We look forward to that competition down the stretch.”

In seven games in February, Kahknonen has a .929 save percentage and a 2.41 save percentage. Although he only has two wins out of those seven appearances, these numbers suggest that the Finnish netminder has figured something out.

Kahkonen Responds to McKenna’s Critique of His Game

Reimer is a pending UFA, and with two young goalies in the minors, Eetu Makiniemi and Strauss Mann, Reimer’s time in San Jose could come to an end this summer. At the moment, Kahkonen is the only goalie signed for next season in the Sharks organization.

But there’s also a chance that he could return as a veteran mentor.

Reimer & Bonino Not Sure What’s Next, But Open To Coming Back to 2023-24 Sharks