Digging into the fantasy impact of James Reimer signing with the Florida Panthers …
Fantasy Impact: James Reimer signed a five-year, $17 million contract ($3.4 million annual cap hit) with the Florida Panthers Friday, July 1.
Florida adds: A high-end backup who is capable of stepping into the starting role for stretches without significantly downgrading the quality of goaltending, Reimer is a huge insurance policy behind 37-year-old No. 1 Roberto Luongo.
Reimer's .925 save percentage at five-on-five since the 2012-13 season ranks 22nd among goalies with at least 2500 minutes played during the span. And last year, Reimer ranked second with a .957 five-on-five Sv% among goalies with at least 1000 minutes.
Additionally, after watching Anaheim, St. Louis and Dallas run a near timeshare in goal, Florida will be able to emulate that approach and keep both goalies fresh deep into the season. Plus, both Luongo and Reimer have been through deep playoff runs and should easily gel as a dynamic duo in the blue paint.
Fantasy Take: With 15 back-to-back games for Florida this season, and Luongo averaging 60.5 starts over the past two years, there would appear to be approximately 25 starts for Reimer in the upcoming season.
However, keeping Luongo healthy and rested could land Reimer closer to 30 starts, which would make Reimer a viable No. 3 goalie option with upside.
Over two full seasons with Florida, Luongo has a rock-solid .921 save percentage and 2.35 goals-against average with 63 wins, including 35 last year. Luongo's value is hindered, slightly, but if fewer starts are mitigated by better production when in the net, it might not be a serious fantasy blow.
View Luongo as middle-tier No. 1 goalie in all fantasy leagues.
The real loser here is Reto Berra, as he appeared set to be the No. 2 in Florida after signing a one-year, $1.45 million contract last week. He isn't a fantasy option in the majority of seasonal leagues and a low-end option in deep dynasty/keeper setups.
Fantasy Players this helps, in order:
1. Reimer (profile, stats here)
Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:
1. Berra (profile, stats here)
2. Luongo (profile, stats here)
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This deal has me scratching my head, Reimers in his prime and this means he has zero shot at stealing starts for atleast 3 years, while Florida ties up 3.4 mil on a seldom playing backup, Im sure Reimer is happy with the money- but it doesnt seem like an ideal match for either of them.
Don’t over think it, man. Luongo and Reimer could be close to a timeshare before long, and Reimer grabbed a taste of being on a contender this spring. Florida is trending in the right direction, and Luongo is 37. Reimer wasn’t going to be a starter on a playoff team, so this is a great fit. Maybe, I’m off base, but that’s how it plays out for me.
I suspect two things – 1) either set up to lose him to expansion, thus saving someone else or 2) transition him to be a starter, from 30 starts next year to 40 to 45, then the job is his