Maple Leafs bring back James Reimer on pro tryout as Woll sidelined

Toronto Maple Leafs veteran James Reimer signed a professional tryout contract with the club on Friday, returning to the team that drafted him as the Maple Leafs cope with backup goaltender Joseph Woll taking an indefinite leave of absence. The 37 year old, who broke into the NHL with Toronto in 2010, arrived in the city after spending last season with the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks.

The Maple Leafs said Woll’s absence is for personal reasons, described by the team as a family matter, and provided no timeline for his return. Reimer’s addition on a tryout basis immediately bolsters the organization’s goaltending depth as the club prepares for the regular season. He was not at the team’s practice Friday and was en route to Toronto, the club said.

Reimer is a veteran of 525 NHL regular season games and is entering his 16th NHL season. The goaltender was selected 99th overall by Toronto in the fourth round of the 2006 draft and spent parts of six seasons as a Leaf, including a memorable run in the 2013 playoffs when he started all seven games against the Boston Bruins. He posted one of his best statistical seasons in the shortened 2012-13 campaign, with a .924 save percentage...