Leafs ink James Reimer to three-year, $5.4 million extension
James Reimer quickly went from rookie goaltender down on the depth chart relieving Jonas Gustavsson during a December game against the Atlanta Thrashers to rookie sensation winning 20 games and putting the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference playoff mix deep into the season.
That run of games has earned the 23-year-old Reimer a hefty raise Thursday as Damian Cox of the Toronto Star reports -- and confirmed by Reimer's agent -- that the Leafs have signed the goaltender to a three-year deal. James Mirtle of the Globe & Mail reports the contract is worth $1.8 million per season.
Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Thursday that the hockey club has signed restricted free agent goaltender James Reimer to a three-year contract.
"We are extremely pleased to have come to terms on this new deal with James and his agent Ray Petkau," said Burke. "He earned the opportunity to play at the NHL level this past season and he made the most of it with his outstanding play. He really grabbed the net and never looked back. We are confident that his talent and strong work habits will be contributing factors to our team's success next season."
With Jean-Sebastien Giguere set to hit the open market next month, the Leafs right now will have the tandem of Gustavsson and Reimer between the pipes to build on a year where the team showed much improvement and had fans once again thinking playoffs.
For Leafs fans, it's now all about James, James, James, James, looking forward to 2012 ...
