from Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post,

Widespread speculation has painted Toronto as a team desperate to pry veteran Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks, to the point where some wondered aloud whether a lack of progress in that pursuit cost Brian Burke his job as general manager. It did not, though in his departing message on Saturday, Burke conceded “goaltending was an issue here,” before repeating his own oft-uttered mantra: “I believe in James Reimer.”

On Sunday, Dave Nonis, the man who succeeded Burke, offered a softer vote of support, but still seemed to suggest Reimer would be the team’s starter when it opens its season against the Montreal Canadiens: “James is going to have to be prepared to step in and play on Saturday night.”

“If he thinks I’m the guy, then obviously I’m extremely thankful for that,” Reimer said. “And it gives me motivation to go out there and play for him. I mean, when someone voices confidence in you, you want to do everything you can to prove them right — to support them and make them look good, in essence.”

Reimer, 24, and Ben Scrivens, 26, are the only two goaltenders the Leafs have invited to training camp. They have 83 games of experience between them in the National Hockey League, and none of those are from the playoffs.

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