Reimer Drags Flames’ Kadri Into Pride Night Controversy in San Jose

Looking for a bit of a lifeline while flailing amid the controversy of refusing to wear the Pride Night jersey in San Jose on Saturday, goalie James Reimer threw out his Calgary Flames character reference, suggesting former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Nazem Kadri might vouch for him.

The Calgary Flames centre played with Reimer for parts of five seasons with the Leafs between 2010 and 2016. Kadri, it seems, was pointed out by Reimer on Saturday because of their different religious beliefs. Although the Sharks goaltender doesn’t seem to know much about the Muslim faith, he pinpointed that as a foundational difference with Kadri that didn’t effect their relationship.

“In Toronto, Nazem Kadri as a teammate, loved him to death. I don’t know exactly the extent of his faith, his Muslim faith. But he’s a Muslim,” Reimer told San Jose Hockey Now while discussing at length his reasons for refusing to don the special warmup jersey.

“I think you could talk to him and ask him if I treated him any different. I love him. I competed with him on the ice, we joked around, we did life together.

“And yet, people would understand if I wouldn’t be able to wear a Muslim jersey in warmups, promoting the Muslim faith, being a Christian and a follow in Christ. He himself would fully understand that.”

I’m not so sure that’s true — although Muslim night doesn’t seem to be on any of the 32 NHL teams’ radars.

Kadri, a big Calgary Flames offseason free agent signing, is the first of Muslim faith to win the Stanley Cup, bringing it to his hometown Mosque last summer.

With the Calgary Flames getting set to play a huge game against the Dallas Stars Saturday night, Kadri had bigger things to worry about than Reimer’s predicament. The Flames have Pride Night slotted for March 28.