The Maple Leafs held a morning skate (game group) and full practice (non-playing group) on Saturday at Ford Performance Centre.
James Reimer couldn’t stop smiling.
“I haven’t had that much fun in a long time,” the 37-year-old goalie said after his first practice with the Leafs since the 2015-16 season. “It’s been a special experience to be back here. A lot of memories and a lot of good emotions and really enjoying the moment and just enjoying being back. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Leafs picked Reimer in the fourth round of the draft way back in 2006. He played six seasons with the team before being traded to the San Jose Sharks.
On Friday, Reimer returned to Toronto signing a professional tryout with the team.
“This is where I started,” he said. “This is where the whole thing got going. It’s a special city. I mean, it’s the greatest game on earth and the greatest city to play the game in. I got so many good memories. I’m sure there were some bad memories in there (smile). I don’t remember any of them. I’m sure nobody else does either.”
Reimer became a fan favourite in Toronto after winning the starter’s job seemingly out of nowhere during the 2010-11 season. The eternally optimistic underdog from tiny Morweena, Man., led the Leafs on an unlikely playoff push, which ultimately came up short.
During the lockout-shortened 2013 season, Reimer backstopped the Leafs to their first playoff appearance since 2004. But the first-round series against the Boston Bruins ended in nightmare fashion with Toronto blowing a 4-1 lead in the third period of Game 7.
With the rebuilding Leafs in the midst of a last-place season, Reimer, who was in the final year of his contract, was traded to the Sharks ahead of the 2016 trade deadline.
Now, Reimer is getting a second chance with his first team. It’s a story that resonates even among teammates.
“I was a bit of a Reimer fanboy,” said winger Steven Lorentz, who grew up a Leafs supporter in Kitchener, Ont. “I’m up to date with all the nicknames and stuff.”
Fans and media often referred to Reimer by “Optimus Reim” or “Reim Minister of defence” during his first stint in Toronto.
“It’s kind of crazy how it comes full circle for him like this,” Lorentz said. “It was just good to see him in the blue and white again.”
The Leafs are in need of additional goaltending depth because Joseph Woll is on personal leave to deal with a family matter and there is no timeline for his return. The next goalie up on the depth chart is 24-year-old Dennis Hildeby, who has just six NHL games on his resume.
Toronto’s starter Anthony Stolarz, meanwhile, has never played more than 34 games in a season.
So, general manager Brad Treliving reached out to Reimer’s agent and invited the veteran goalie to training camp on a PTO.
Reimer split last season between the Anaheim Ducks (.864 save percentage in two games) and Buffalo Sabres (.901 in 22 games).
“I took some time after the season to kind of feel it out and kind of see, you know, if I wanted to keep playing or not,” the veteran of 525 games and seven NHL teams said. “And it became pretty clear early on in the summer that I still love the game and I still love to compete. And so I just ran with that feeling. I was going to prepare myself and if the right opportunity came then I was going to get ready to seize it.”
Reimer spent the offseason training in Kelowna, B.C., which is where his family spends the summer.
‘Good emotions’: Reimer aims to make most of second chance with Leafs Goaltender James Reimer is back with the Maple Leafs on a PTO, and following his first session with the team on Saturday, the 37-year old spoke about what it means to be back with the team, and making the most of his second chance with Toronto.
Treliving kept close tabs on Reimer during Saturday’s practice even moving to the end of the ice where the goalie was working.
Craig Berube gave his newest goalie a positive review.
“He’s a great guy,” the coach said. “He’s got a great attitude. He’s always in a good mood it seems like. He’s excited to be here and we’re excited to have him. Just going to take a little time to get up to the speed. He’s been working, but it’s not like this.”
Lorentz also played with Reimer with the Sharks and Carolina Hurricanes. He describes the 6-foot-2 goalie as a hard worker and top-notch teammate.
“He was one of the guys that pulled me aside before my first NHL game when I had all the nerves going through me and he just said, ‘Kid, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t belong, so just enjoy it, take a breath of fresh air,’ and that really calmed me down,” Lorentz recalled. “I’ll never forget that advice from him.”
‘Always in a good mood’: Reimer makes immediate impression at Leafs camp James Reimer participated in his first team practice Saturday after signing a PTO with the Maple Leafs, and he impressed fellow teammates and head coach Craig Berube making an immediate impression.
—
During his first tenure in Toronto, Reimer wore No. 34. That number is currently taken by captain Auston Matthews.
“We had a little bit of a tussle and we kind of figured that probably Monday in practice we’ll have a bout at centre and the winner takes the number,” Reimer said with a laugh.
Reimer will wear 47 with the Leafs, which has been his number since leaving the Sharks at the end of the 2015-16 season.
Matthews skated alongside most of the NHL regulars with the game group on Saturday, but did not take line rushes and did not dress against the Canadiens.
“I’m not too worried,” said Berube. “I think he’s been extremely good in camp. Like very good in my opinion with how he looks, his effort, competitiveness and things like that. He’s going to get another game, but I’m not too worried about getting a certain amount of games in.”
Matthews scored in Tuesday’s pre-season game, which was his first exhibition action at training camp. Early in camp, the 28-year-old centre was asked how many pre-season games he feels he needs to get up to speed.
“I’d like to play at least two,” Matthews said last week. “You definitely want to play in a few just to kind of get the rust out and get used to just kind of being back in that kind of environment. Obviously, we’re out here and it’s, you know, heavy. It’s hard. It’s physical and competitive, but, you know, nothing really compares to like playing an actual game. So you definitely want to get your feet wet in those.”
Matthews suffered an upper-body injury at training camp last year and never fully recovered while scoring a career-low 33 goals.
With Matthews out, Max Domi will move to the middle on a line with Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson. Domi, who missed the start of training camp with a lower-body injury, will be dressing in his first pre-season game of the year.
—
After playing in the first three pre-season games, Cowan will get the night off on Saturday. The 2023 first round pick is pleased with how his third NHL training camp is progressing.
“It’s been going good, but obviously you can get better, and so just looking to continue to keep going,” Cowan said.
“Just gonna keep playing direct, keep playing simple, you know, keep playing north hockey that’s fast, and chipping pucks, and getting pucks back, and just looking to capitalize on some chances that I’ve had.”
Cowan seems to be well positioned to make the NHL roster despite his age and inexperience. He’s been skating on a line with fourth-line staples Lorentz and Scott Laughton. That trio dominated the Canadiens during Thursday’s pre-season game at the Bell Centre.
Lorentz, who scored twice against the Canadiens, is impressed by the grittiness in Cowan’s game.
“His willingness to go in the corners and battle [stands out and] to see a kid with that much skill not afraid to get his nose dirty, I’m not surprised how well he’s done just because of that mentality and that grittiness that he brings.”
Cowan is quick to note he initially made the London Knights as a bottom-six player before emerging as one of the best players in junior hockey.
Berube is urging Cowan to stay the course.
“You don’t want him to get too comfortable and try things that will hurt him more than help him,” Berube stressed. “Just stay consistent in what you’re doing. You’re doing a good job there. And I get it. He’s used to scoring and making plays and getting points. That doesn’t always happen right away. It takes time for that to happen. And I’m not too worried about that. I’m more focused on the type of game he’s playing. And he’s doing a good job for us right now.”
Cowan builds momentum at Leafs camp; surprised to be showcased at Hall of Fame With the Leafs about halfway through camp, Easton Cowan discusses what he’s liked about how he’s performed as he guns for a roster spot, and head coach Craig Berube discusses what he’s like from Cowan and his ability to fit into a role. Cowan also discusses being showcased at the Hall of Fame as a part of the London Knights’ 2025 Memorial Cup Championship team.
—
Cowan didn’t realize that his game-worn sweater from the London Knights Memorial Cup final win is on display as part of the ‘Road to the Top’ showcase at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“One of my buddies was in Toronto, and sent me a picture,” Cowan said. “I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool. I’ll take it.’”
And Cowan decided to check it out himself this week.
“It was definitely special to see,” he said. “Just brought back a lot of memories I had in London.”
Cowan was named MVP of the Memorial Cup.
We were excited to welcome Easton Cowan for a visit to the Hall this week!🙌
Our Road to the Top display showcases Easton’s @LondonKnights 2025 Memorial Cup Championship game-worn jersey and stick.🏆💚 pic.twitter.com/MhETQLavPE
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) September 23, 2025
—
Winger Bobby McMann and centre David Kampf did not skate on Saturday with Berube citing the need for maintenance as the reason.
Defenceman Simon Benoit skated again in a red no-contact sweater as he continues to work his way back from an upper-body injury.
—
Lines at Leafs skate on Saturday:
Jarnkrok – Tavares – Nylander
Knies – Domi – Robertson
Joshua – Roy – Maccelli
Pezzetta – Quillan – Valis
Matthews
McCabe – Tanev
Rielly – Carlo
Ekman-Larsson – Benning
Benoit
Stolarz starts
Akhtyamov
Lines at Leafs practice on Saturday:
Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan
Barbolini – Groulx – Lettieri
Tverberg – Shaw – A.Nylander
Sim – Haymes – Boyd
Thrun – Myers
Webber – Mermis
Prokop – Villeneuve
Smith – Danford
Reimer
Hildeby
Peksa