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Nov 30 '17
WINNIPEG – As an early afternoon practice wrapped in the blustery Manitoba capital of Winnipeg, Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle ambled over to James Reimer, stretching just outside the visitors crease, and offered a quick word. Josh Robinson Jersey . He, the 25-year-old Toronto backup net-minder and Manitoba native, would be making just his fourth start in the past 16 games against the Jets the following evening. It was the word of opportunity for Reimer, who has fallen into the role of backup, outmatched in recent weeks by Jonathan Bernier, his Quebec counterpart. "Its been," said Reimer in conversation with the Leaf Report, pausing briefly to choose his words, "its been an interesting year. Thats maybe the best way I can describe it." More than eight months after he steered the Leafs into their first playoff appearance in nine years and Reimer is no longer the no. 1 guy in Toronto. Bernier has wrestled hold of that mantle for the time being, earning the bulk of starts since the middle of December – 32 on the year compared with 21 for Reimer. Challenged, doubted, and dissected often throughout his 127-game NHL career, be it through summer trade talk for Roberto Luongo, deadline trade talk for Miikka Kiprusoff or a concussion that badly derailed his first full season, Reimer has managed to overcome a series of different hurdles in his tenure as a Leaf, but maybe nothing quite like this. Bernier is not a rumoured threat, nor a nagging injury to bypass, but a feisty challenger itching to prove himself in the spotlight. And thus far, the 25-year-old has taken full advantage of the opportunity hes been granted in Toronto, sitting amongst the top-10 in league save percentage (.925), while eventually establishing himself as the Leafs undeclared no. 1 starter. The looming challenge for Reimer is to snatch the job right back. And he plans to fight for it. He has not and has no intention of asking for a trade out of Toronto despite circumstances (Bernier trade, a proven track record) that might have led others in his situation to stray down that path. "Your end goal is to be the guy and you want that, but youve got to focus on everyday what I need to do so that that can happen," said Reimer. "Its like I want to win the Cup, but its not like every day I hit the ice Im going to win the Cup. I want to win the Cup, but when I hit the ice its what do I need to do to be the best I can be. And if you focus on that everyday then eventually the Cup will come. "Same with this (situation). Its obviously something you want. Its something you really want. But youve got to focus on a lot smaller goals." Those goals start with making full use of the opportunities he gets, however infrequent, and reshape a race that is likely far from over. One such opportunity presented itself earlier this week in Denver, Reimer propelling the Leafs to an unlikely 5-2 win over the Avalanche with 35 big saves. And now another opportunity looms against the Jets on Saturday evening, his club looking to avenge a 7-1 loss in Dallas two nights earlier. Reimers only real control in the matter of playing time is performance. And though he started with a bang in October – a gaudy .949 save percentage in six games – that performance has dipped downward (albeit with little help in some situations) with Bernier proving the more reliable and consistent of the two. "Thats exactly the way you approach it," Reimer said of earning more starts with performance. "You try not to look ahead. You try not to say Id like to get 10 out of 12 (starts) or 10 out of 20, or whatever, three out of seven, whatever it may be. "To me, when I get the nod I want to go out there and play my heart out." This is unfamiliar terrain for the Morweena native, that of the NHL backup. Though he very briefly battled with Ben Scrivens at the outset of last season, Reimer has quickly defined himself as a viable starter in the league, finishing 2013 with eighth best save percentage while steering the Leafs to a near-first round upset of the Bruins in the playoffs. He owns an impressive 63-38-15 career mark with a sturdy .915 save percentage. Falling into the role of second fiddle, thus, has been a challenge, mostly in the mental arena. "Its 105 per cent mental, I think, this game," said Reimer. "Its all about trying to be in the right mindset and trying to stay positive and knowing that when you have the extra time to work on stuff thats what youve got to do. Youve got to work your butt off so that when you get the nod youre as prepared as you can (be)." His longer-term future in Toronto remains murky at best. Reimer is a restricted free agent this summer with Bernier locked up for another year. In theory, the organization could opt to keep both – though Reimer holds arbitration rights and would seem to hold a pretty good case for a good raise – but more than likely one will be gone by next fall, if not sooner. Both want and have earned the right to start. The choice will ultimately belong to general manager Dave Nonis, who brought Bernier into the fold from Los Angeles in his first big splash as the Maple Leafs boss last summer. Reimer wants to stay and wont ask to go. But he also wants to play and intends to fight to do so. "I feel like Im becoming a better person for it or at least I hope so," he said of the experience this season. "I feel like Im battling and grinding and trying to do everything I can. As far as I know if youre doing that then thats all you can do." Doug Martin Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Robert McClain Jersey . But when it was all over they had wasted another lead, seen another pitcher flame out on the mound and lost their fourth straight at home.Charlie Nicholas says Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea would all be interested in buying Theo Walcott this summer - and has urged Arsenal not to let him leave. The 27-year-old forward has not made Arsene Wengers starting line-up since their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the end of February, playing just 15 minutes, in total, in back-to-back draws with West Ham and Crystal Palace.That lack of playing time has brought both Walcotts Arsenal future and his chances of making Englands Euro 2016 squad into question - but Gunners legend Nicholas is convinced the club would regret letting him go. Walcotts next club odds Find out where Sky Bet expect Walcott to be playing next season. The Soccer Saturday pundit said: There has to be suitors looking at him. I dont see why Manchester United and Liverpool wouldnt be interested.Theo has the pace that people will be interested in and Chelsea might also be looking at him if theyre considering letting Eden Hazard go.I think if the money was there, Arsene would sell him but I would not. It scares me that he could go to another club and deliver. Walcott warms up during Arsenals 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace Le Tiss predicts... Le Tiss is backing Mesut Ozil to score 1st and Arsenal to beat West Brom 2-0 at 22/1 here. Nicholas, who made 184 appearances for Arsenal, believves Wenger can still get more out of the forward, who has only scored 10 goals or more once since arriving in 2006. Custom Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys. .He added: I do believe he has it in him to score 20+ goals in a season. Arsene needs to change something for next season and he clearly needs to change the way he uses Walcott if hes going to get the best out of him.Theo is too nice though and Id like to think he would have a good honest row with Arsene every now and again and ask him what he needs to do to prove himself. Walcott fails score in Chelseas 1-0 win at the Emirates Fellow Soccer Saturday pundit Matt Le Tissier agrees that Walcott will be looking to move this summer - and he encouraged him to consider clubs who wont be playing in the Champions League. Charlies Sky Bet tips Find out what Charlie is tipping up at 80/1 for Arsenal v West Brom here. He told Sky Sports: Its not looking great for him right now and for the sake of his career he needs to be somewhere hes going to play every week.I think hes in real danger of missing out on the Euros, I really do, and if he wants to be a first-choice striker he needs to be looking at one of the teams outside the Champions League challengers to have that guaranteed. Id happily have him back at Southampton.Hes obviously slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal. Alex Iwobi is now starting and Joel Campbell has also been picked ahead of him, so hes got to be asking questions. Also See: Arsenal v West Brom Supplement panel on WalcottCheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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