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Reimer: ‘Fair question’ if he’ll ask for trade out of Toronto

Toronto Maple Leafs v Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 8: Goalie James Reimer #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts after giving up a goal to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on April 8, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Mike Carlson

Is James Reimer going to ask the Maple Leafs to move him this summer?

Well, he’s not ready to say yet. But he did appreciate why reporters would ask.

“Let’s wait a couple of days before we talk about [the possibility of asking for a trade],” Remier said on Wednesday, per TSN. “Obviously, it’s a fair question.”

To say it’s been a tough year for Reimer would be a big understatement. After backstopping Toronto to its first playoff appearance in seven years last season, Reimer watched as the Leafs went out and acquired Jonathan Bernier from Los Angeles, then watched as the one-time goalie timeshare quickly turned into Bernier as the No. 1, and Reimer as the No. 2.

But that was just the start of things.

Toronto’s late-season collapse coincided with Bernier getting hurt and Reimer coming on in relief, which led to Randy Carlyle’s now-infamous “he was okay, you know, just okay,” remark following a 3-2 loss to Detroit, a comment that seemed to sting Reimer.

Looking ahead, though, one has to think Reimer would be a considerable target for teams looking to upgrade their goaltending this summer. A pending RFA, he’s in the last of a three-year, $5.4 million deal and is only 26 years old, posting really strong save percentages during both last regular season (.924) and opening-round playoff loss to Boston (.923).

He also got off to a tremendous start this year, going 5-0-0 in October with a .949 save percentage and one shutout.