Would James Reimer be a fit as Flames backup?

For the umpteenth year in a row, the Calgary Flames are looking for a goaltender. It seems likely that David Rittich will be the team’s starting netminder to open the 2019-20 season, but the Flames need a backup to spell him off. Friday on social media The Athletic’s James Mirtle pondered if Florida Panthers netminder James Reimer could be a fit for the Flames.

Reimer’s 31 years old and has two years remaining on a deal with the Panthers that counts for $3.4 million against the cap annually. He’s played 338 NHL games, but his performance over the past few seasons has varied greatly. He had a .922 save percentage in 2015-16 (split between Toronto and Florida), but his numbers have eroded with Florida: .920 in 2016-17, .913 in 2017-18 and .900 in 2018-19. He’s also battled injuries here and there, missing a few weeks due to lower-body maladies in each of the past three seasons.

The concept behind getting a veteran backup for Rittich makes a ton of sense. It’s why folks are suggesting names like Curtis McElhinney, Cam Talbot or Keith Kinkaid to spell off Rittich from time to time. But Reimer’s performances over the past few seasons haven’t done a ton to engender confidence in his abilities, while the acquisition cost to get him probably won’t be massive but given his history (performance and injury) the club would likely need a third-stringer they have confidence in. (At maximum retained salary, Reimer would cost $1.7 million while he’d likely be a bit cheaper if his existing deal was bought out and he came to the Flames as a free agent.)