James Reimer and the Toronto Maple Leafs have avoided the arbitration hearing scheduled for next Monday, as the two sides have agreed to a two-year contract for $4.6 Million.
The 26-year-old Morweena, MB native went 12-16-1 for the Leafs last season, with a 3.26 GAA and .911 save percentage in 36 games.
Reimer, who was selected by Toronto in the fourth round(99th overall) in 2006, had requested a trade in late June to a team that would give him a better opportunity to win the starting job, after losing the head-to-head competition to Jonathan Bernier.
With a cap hit of $2.3 Million, Reimer's salary is in line with a top-level backup goaltender, which could mean that he will remain with Toronto as insurance for the injured Bernier, but it could also clear the way for a trade if the acquiring team did not want to deal for a player with unresolved arbitration.
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Since the Leafs and Cody Franson avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $3.3 Million contract earlier this week, many have wondered whether the next time the defenseman’s name will be uttered will be when the club convenes their training camp in mid-September or when they announce a trade for the 26-year-old veteran.
Franson has led the Maple Leafs in defensive scoring the last two seasons and was the club’s only right-handed shooting blueliner, but GM Dave Nonis obtained depth defenseman Roman Polak in a trade from St. Louis, signed veteran free agent Stephane Robidas and believes that 21-year-old Swede Petter Granberg is close to being ready to make the jump to the NHL.
The speculation that Colorado could have interest in Franson makes sense, as the Avs are thin on defense, have yet to sign restricted free agent Tyson Barrie(who was injured during their first round playoff loss to Minnesota) and added only veteran Brad Stuart from San Jose.
According to
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News , the Red Wings are still searching for a right handed defenseman after striking out in free agency on Anton Stralman, Matt Niskanen and Dan Boyle and are exploring trade options for Washington’s Mike Green and Buffalo’s Tyler Myers, but Franson could also be an option if the Leafs do not mind trading inside the Atlantic Division.
Nonis has to make the calculation on whether it will be more beneficial for the Leafs to trade the pending unrestricted free agent before the season begins for a prospect or a draft pick or to hold onto the power play specialist until the trade deadline, when his value could go up.
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