The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to make the playoffs once more this season, however this time they want to have extra success than they’ve had in current campaigns. With their aggressive offseason that included additions to their blue line in Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, their intention to make a push for his or her first Stanley Cup since 1967 is evident. Additionally they went out and bolstered their goaltending depth by signing Anthony Stolarz, who was simply a part of the Stanley Cup champion-winning Florida Panthers, in hopes of addressing one among their largest points heading into the brand new marketing campaign.
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Whereas Stolarz wasn’t the starter because the Panthers made a push for a championship, he performed effectively sufficient to justify getting a pay increase on his new cope with the Maple Leafs. At 30 years outdated, Stolarz solely has 108 video games below his belt however has posted a formidable 2.69 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .915 save proportion (SV%) with 43 wins. Final season, he posted a 2.03 GAA and a .925 SV% by means of 27 video games with 16 wins and two shutouts. Regardless of his relative lack of expertise, the Maple Leafs took an opportunity on Stolarz with a two-year deal value $2.5 million yearly.
With Joseph Woll doubtless coming into the brand new season because the starter, including a powerful backup like Stolarz was a good move. Woll has had some harm points over the previous few seasons, and it looks as if goaltending accidents observe the Maple Leafs round. Matt Murray has had some severe harm points prior to now, and the now-departed Ilya Samsonov was coping with some issues throughout 2024 postseason, so signing one other goalie made probably the most sense.
Stolarz Has Confirmed His Value, However Maple Leafs’ Goaltending Historical past Is Shaky
The Maple Leafs have had a troublesome historical past of goaltending points apart from the accidents. Jack Campbell left to hitch the Edmonton Oilers on a large five-year contract which failed miserably, as he slipped down their depth chart, and was finally purchased out after two seasons the place he couldn’t discover his sport, and is now preventing for a job with the Detroit Purple Wings. Petr Mrazek was a hopeful addition within the 2021-22 season, however his inconsistency compelled the Maple Leafs to make a commerce after he posted a 3.34 GAA and a .888 SV% by means of 20 video games.
In that very same season, the Maple Leafs went by means of 5 completely different goaltenders who performed not less than one sport and weren’t capable of finding a solidified starter. The 2022-23 season was a lot of the identical — although Samsonov was in a position to play effectively sufficient to justify taking part in greater than half of their video games, they nonetheless went by means of 5 goalies. Getting into the 2024-25 season, the Maple Leafs have Woll, Stolarz, and Murray on their goaltending depth chart as they give the impression of being to lastly discover a sturdy sufficient tandem to make it into the playoffs and push to finish their Stanley Cup drought.
One of many Maple Leafs’ largest points has at all times been their goaltending. They’ve now solved their defensive depth points, and it looks as if they’ve the deepest goaltending they’ve had in a very long time. Whereas they might have solved their largest query mark heading into the season, there’s nonetheless a large threat related to Woll and Stolarz as a tandem. Murray may have the ability to play his approach into the tandem since his Stanley Cup-winning expertise may very well be an asset when the postseason rolls round, however that’s why Stolarz may very well be the X-factor this season. If Stolarz can show to be a starting-caliber goalie, the Maple Leafs might lastly have the ability to break each curse and make a powerful playoff push quite than endure one other season of disappointment.
