After finding success in Curtis McElhinney as the backup goalie to Petr Mrazek in 2018-19, the Hurricanes made an offseason trade to bring James Reimer to Raleigh to take on the reins of the backup netminder. The Canes traded away a failed goalie project in Scott Darling to the Florida Panthers, along with a sixth-round pick, to get Reimer, who had a pretty down year in 2018-19 himself.
The change of scenery seemed to pay off for Reimer, as the veteran goaltender put together a strong 2019-20 campaign behind Mrazek before the season got shut down.