This is one of three entries I'm working on.
This blog entry is about 'the hype', as I refer to him.
James Reimer, the rookie goaltender of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has captured the attention of 'Leafs Nation'...dragging the team to the doors of the NHL playoffs, only to miss the dance by the narrowest of margins...8 points.
I, for one, was stunned the Leafs made it so close to the playoffs. But, unlike most Leafs fans, I'm a realist when it comes to the 'Blue & White'...but once I looked at Reimer's numbers, I quickly knew the truth about the Leafs. He was almost single-handily pulling the team along.
Reimer made his NHL debut for the Leafs on December 20th, 2010. He was put into the game, against the Atlanta Thrasher, when Jonas Gustavsson was pulled...after allowing 5 goals on 18 shots. Reimer played 14:09 of that game, stopping all 4 shots he saw. The Leafs lost, surprise...surprise.
Reimer would finally get into another NHL game, this time starting for the Leafs against their rival...the Ottawa Senators, on New Year's day. On the 33 shots he faced, Reimer let in one goal. Toronto destroyed the Sens, 5-1 that day. Strangely, he wasn't one of the three star selections.
James Reimer has gone onto to play in 37 games for Toronto, this season.
He has won 20 of them.
Currently his personal statistics are; 20 wins, 10 losses, 5 OTL. 2.60 goals against average. .921% save percentage. And 3 shutouts.
He's played in less games than the season holds, put has more wins than all the other Leafs goalies...COMBINED. Funny enough, he has less losses than both of the other goalies too.
It's plain to see, the Leafs are just a better team, with 'Optimus Reim' in the net.
Now...is he the real deal? ...or just a flash in the pan?
We've seen this before, with Leaf goaltenders. Bring up a kid, let him win a few games...burn him out. Or have the Leafs done it right this time? Keep him in junior, then mature him in the AHL, and finally give him a shot?
Reimer could be the next Johnny Bower...cool under pressure, no fear, and led the Leafs to the promised land, winning 4 Stanley Cups...in the Leafs final dynasty.
Or could he be the next Eric Fichaud? Drafted 1st round, 16th overall in 1994, by the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his draft year, he led his team to the Memorial Cup finals, winning a host of awards, including the top goaltender and playoff MVP awards. A classic butterfly goaltender in the Patrick Roy mold, Fichaud looked to be a future NHL starting netminder. Fichaud never lived up to the lofty expectations his fantastic junior career had led to, bouncing between the minor leagues and the NHL. In only 95 NHL games, Fichaud won 22 games, losing 47.
Time will tell.
However, the 23 year old is hot.
...And he's doing a free signing.
That's just enough fuel, for me to get his autograph!
It was announced that on Sunday, April 10th, James Reimer would be making his first ever public autograph appearance. Pickering Flea Market is hosting the free event.
I decided instantly that I would go. Hard part is...I figured every other Leafs fan out there will be going too.
I also decided that I would blog my travels...in a different format. I decided that I would make this entry, 'real time based'. Hope you like it.
Let's roll.
The Next Johnny Bower Or Eric Fichaud?
Saturday, April 9, 2011 (Day before autograph signing)
12:35pm; Freshly out of shower, deodorized, and fully dressed, I find myself on my laptop seeking out images of James Reimer...suitable for signing. I decided that I would print out a 16x20 of Toronto's hottest rookie, in years, and have him autograph the large picture.
12:38pm; Found the image I wanted. It's abit different...but definitely cool!
12:43pm; Finished searching internet for JR pics, loaded image onto flashdrive.
1:12pm; Absolutely beautiful day! Glad I'm in t-shirt and shorts for the first time in 2011! Arrived at Wal-mart, hitting up the Kodak printers.
1:29pm; After realizing that the Guelph Wal-mart is apparently now allergic to McFarlane figures, time for a quick lunch at McDonald's. Gave this stuff up months ago, just having 2 Chicken snack wraps, while 16x20 is being printed.
1:55pm; With 16x20 in hand, and happy with it's turn out, I'm out of Wal-mart. I'm now ready for the signing.
4:15pm; 16x20 is now in spare top-loader for safe keeping. Safe from Caesar's sharp Chihuahua teeth!
7:31pm; My great friend, Richard, just messages me from New Brunswick saying he found 2 McFarlane variants for me! What a guy! He's now going to bring a Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings goalie) and a Dion Phaneuf (TML Captain) home for my collection! I tell him thanks...and that I'm going to Reimer's signing tomorrow, he mentions that he'd like JR's autograph on his Leafs jersey. Not a problem for my, retired soldier, friend.
11:49pm; After watching dozen's of episodes of Battlestar Gallactica, I just found out the Leafs lost to the Habs. Now, I'm going back to update all the stats I listed earlier about Reim's!
Sunday, April 10, 2011 (Day of autograph signing)
8:40am; Alarm goes off.
9:02am; Awake. Kind of.
9:27am; Hit shower. Super hot...loosen up sore, tight muscles. Meh.
9:55am; Walking out front door, with 16x20...in need of caffeine. Something feels off though.
10:07am; Hitting the 401 eastbound (and down!), looks like rain. Still feeling weird about something.
10:09am; Text both Bill and Ryan, to see if they're on their way, and to save a spot in line.
10:11am; 680news says smooth sailing throughout Toronto, however there seems to be alot of traffic this morning. Making good time. ETA is 11:10am, for Pickering.
10:18am; Both Bill and Ryan, respond...on their way to Reim's. Am I breaking the law, here?
10:28am; Fully caffeinated. But, something is still off.
10:36am; Feel bladder filling up. Not good. Passing Yonge Street, starting to rain. Also, not good. Glad I put the 16x20 in a top loader, where it should be ok from the rain.
10:43am; Passing the Scarborough Town Centre, and it hits me like a tonne of bricks...I suddenly realize what's wrong! I FORGOT RICHARD'S MAPLE LEAFS JERSEY, BACK IN GUELPH. Frak.
10:44am; Feeling terrible, can't turn back.
10:51am; BBM from Corinna; "You forgot Richard's jersey". The return of the guilty feeling, again.
11:01am; Entering Pickering. Downpour. Meh.
11:07am; Text from Bill; "Hurry up!". I knew it...it's going to be a madhouse!
11:20am; Parked, not easy. At least I'm here. Pickering's current population...plus one.
11:22am; Inside the Flea Market, shaking off rain from myself and pic. Still glad I wore t-shirt and shorts, though. Gotta love the spring!
11:25am; Find Bill and Ryan in line. Not too far back, good spot. Line is massive already though. They're both chatting with the promoter of the signing, Aaron. (Of The Heritage Stick Co.) Free plug.
11:28am; Just dicussed that I have to pay for my 16x20 to get signed...because of its size, but if I purchase an 8x10...that'll get signed for free. Well, I'm buying the 8x10 photo...I owe that much to Richard. I'm thinking I'll get it personalized to him, too.
11:31am; With our spot saved in line, we check out the photos available for the rookie. Looks like 6 different images. I select the 'licensed NHL/NHLPA' image. Acutally, I really the pic...that's why I selected it. Man, they have alot of pics here, to purchase. They also have game-model goalie sticks, and tonnes of pucks. Hope they sell a few.
11:35am; Looking at promoter's old signed stock. He's selling autographed 8x10's for $5 bucks, and signed pucks for $10. Nice looking stuff. But I'm a 'in person' guy. Unless, someone gets it signed for me. So, I pass on various signed items...however Bill and Ryan make a healthy donation to Aaron's company!
11:41am; Wandering around the market, with Ryan, looking at the various booths...searching for a ATM for him, and the washroom for me.
11:47am; Various McFarlane dealers/booths are distracting us, from our goal! I just saw a Buffalo Bills Drew Bledsoe variant for 8 bucks! I have one opened...but I'd love another is mint packaging!
11:48am; Bladder wins, I pass on the DB variant. Another time, Drew...another time.
11:52am; Ryan has cash, and I have an empty bladder. Back to the line.
11:56am; We're not good at this...we keep getting distracted! We just spotted a James Reimer painting, framed, for $90 bucks. Ryan is checking it out. Then turns to me and says; "It was $60 earlier". Nice.
11:59am; Return to the line, tell Bill about the painting. Then find out, Ryan can get it for around $20. He might be on to something here.
12:05pm; BBM Corinna that I'm getting Richard an 8x10. She agrees with the idea.
12:17pm; Various chats about current Leafs, and their signing habits. James Reimer? Great signer.
12:24pm; Find out that Bill is going to the Marlies game tonight, against the Heat. No, not Miami...the other Heat. The Abbotsford Heat. He's hoping to get Leland Irving. Another goaltending prospect.
12:26pm; Quickly counted we're around 60th in line. Impressive. I'm guessing there is around 500 people here now. Good for the promoter!
12:31pm; Bill, Ryan, and I are checking out what we brought to get signed by Optimus Reim. Bill has a Marlies giveaway, cards, and a photo. Ryan has a team jersey, photos, and cards. I still only have my 16x20 and Richard's 8x10.
12:34pm; Ryan shows the Leafs jersey...looks great! Already has Dion Phaneuf, Clarke MacArthur, amongst others.
12:35pm; Bill has been here since 10:30am. That's commitment to a hobby, baby.
12:41pm; Line moves forward. No JR isn't here yet, it's security moving line tighter together. Meh. Bill notices the line has actually circled where we are.
12:46pm; Part of line that circled us...just moves forward now! Bill notices this, we all share a little laugh in amazement!
12:47pm; I mention that I'd like a picture of the line for my blog...Bill says why don't you go for walk along the entire line and video tape it to for the amount of time to walk the length of the line! Great idea...not sure if I have the memory available for the walk on my Blackberry! This is one monster line!
12:49pm; I take a quick pic of the line.
12:51pm; Bill shows us a picture he had taken at a travelling "Wipeout" display, promoting the Canadian broadcast of the TV show. It's Bill getting punched in the face, along the boxing glove wall! Hilarious! All free!
12:56pm; Bill and Ryan step outside for a quick cylinder of tobacco. Still raining.
1:00pm; Start of signing. However, James Reimer still isn't here yet! Actually Bill & Ryan are still outside.
1:09pm; Hearing applause from front of the line. Guess I know, who's here!
1:10pm; Bill & Ryan return. Bill says he walked in behind Reimer!
1:14pm; Line is moving. Good news.
1:22pm; We find ourselves in front of the booth selling the merch. All the photos are sold out! Incredible! Simply incredible! Good for Aaron's company! Seems like this is a total success! We're about 10 feet away from TML's goaltender of the future.
1:23pm; It's Ryan first, myself second, and Bill third. Two people in front of us.
1:24pm; One person. They got the "Optimus Reim" inscription...that's great!
1:25pm; Uh oh...Ryan is having problems getting his stuff out of protection! He remains calm, and tells me to go ahead. I quickly hand my ticket to the handler, pull out both the 8x10 and 16x20 out of protection, and step in front of the signing table...where Aaron is sitting beside James Reimer. It's my turn.
1:26pm; It put my 2 items down, putting the 8x10 first to get signed...Richard first. Then the 16x20 image. Aaron comments that the 16x20 is really a cool shot! I agree, and pull out my BB and get the camera going. I greet James Reimer with a hello! He says hello, and I quickly ask him to make the autograph out "To Richard". Instantly he starts with the personalization! He signs it afterwards, near the bottom right corner. I took a quick shot of JR signing for Richard.
1:27pm; I move the 16x20 in front of JR, and he stops to check it out. I told him, this is the final shootout of the season, where you won the game for the Leafs! I mentioned; "I like the picture, because it has you buried in the net, looking up to the Lord...thanking him!". James smiled at that, and reached for the blue Sharpie. I quickly spoke again. "James, can you sign a large autograph and add the Optimus too?". "Sure" he said. James Reimer signed a large autograph in the perfect spot on the 16x20, adding the 'Optimus Reim' inscription! I took another quick shot of JR signing for me.
1:28pm; I gathered my items, and thanked James for signing for me. He looked at me and said; "No problem...that's a real cool picture!" I smiled and said thanks again.
1:29pm; It's Ryan's turn with Optimus Reim. I took a quick shot of Ryan getting his stuff signed by the rookie.
1:31pm; Finally, the last of out trio is up. Bill is now with the goaltender. I took a quick picture of Bill getting his items signed...however Bill moves like the '6 million dollar man', and blurs the shot!
1:33pm; As we do after every signing, we show eachother our stuff signed. Ryan isn't too happy with some of his cards. A couple of them bled, making the autograph kind of watered-looking. We try to figure out, if the problem is because of the gloss, Sharpie, or if Reimer signed it too quickly. Bill showed his cards...not as bad, but a few thin parts in JR's auto. I'm chalking it up to a quick signature.
1:36pm; We all agree, that was pretty cool. I throw out the idea of lunch. Bill mentions he has to run to the Marlies game, and that Ryan has to head home. Oh well, next time.
1:40pm; We say our goodbyes, shake hands, and part ways...all with our newest additions to our ever-growing collections.
1:42pm; Started up the Highlander, and BBM Corinna..."I'm on my way home". Looks like the rain has passed.
Epilogue;
For the record, I think that Reimer is a fantastic piece to the Leafs puzzle. Will he be a Cup contender goalie? Time will tell. However, I hope the Leafs don't burn him out, like they have with rookies of the past. If the Leafs can add a touch more firepower up front, continue to develop youngsters (like Kadri, Colborne, McKegg, etc...), and use Reimer and Gustavsson properly next season...The Toronto Maple Leafs will make the 2011/12 playoffs. You heard it here first.
Thanks for the read.
C.
