The Rangers are signing James Reimer to a one-year, $850,000 deal, making New York the 38-year-old goaltender's ninth NHL team.
The team announced the move with its crease in trouble. Igor Shesterkin is on IR with a knee injury, and Joonas Korpisalo is out until at least November 9.
Reimer isn't arriving cold. He already played one AHL game with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season, stopping all 35 shots for a shutout.
That's about as loud as an audition gets.
Dylan Garand has carried the load, but his save percentage has slipped to .900. Saturday's 7-4 loss in Ottawa didn't help.
Spencer Martin has played once, posting an .833 mark. Mike Sullivan needed another body he could trust.
The résumé is long. Toronto drafted Reimer 99th overall in 2006, and he's since suited up for the Leafs, Sharks, Panthers, Hurricanes, Red Wings, Sabres, Ducks and Senators.
James Reimer brings 539 NHL games of experience to Broadway
He owns 232 career wins and a .909 save percentage.
Last season in Ottawa, he posted a 2.42 GAA across 14 games.
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Reimer is the hockey version of the substitute teacher who's taught every grade in the building. Nobody's surprised when he walks in, and the class settles down fast.
This is smart, cheap insurance, and nothing more. Chris Drury still needs a real answer in goal, whether that's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or someone else, because a 38-year-old on a one-year deal won't carry a playoff run.
The Rangers are 6-0-0 at home and 1-5-1 on the road. Los Angeles visits Monday.
Whether Reimer gets the net right away is up to Sullivan. Every save he makes buys Drury more time, and every goal he allows makes the phone ring louder.
Is James Reimer enough to stabilize the Rangers' crease without another trade?
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