The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of players fighting for jobs heading into the 2026-27 season, but Dakota Joshua and Anthony Stolarz could be under more pressure than most. With John Chayka dealing with a tight salary cap and plenty of players looking for NHL opportunities, neither player has much room for a slow start
Joseph & Stolarz could be on a short leash
For Joshua, the issue comes down to his contract and what he brings to the lineup. Toronto has several forwards competing for bottom-six spots, especially with their free agent additions. Which means Joshua needs to show that he can give the Maple Leafs the physical presence they expected when they brought him in.
An added benefit for him is that one of the bottom-six forwards that the organization signed was his former teammate Teddy Blueger. During their time together in Vancouver, they developed instant chemistry. However, if that doesn’t happen this time, he could be flipped for a draft pick or prospect by American Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately, Stolarz has a similar problem in goal. He is coming off a tough season, and even after bringing in his former teammate Serigei Bobrovsky and trading Joseph Woll, his job is not truly safe as the backup. The Maple Leafs now have another goaltender pushing for an NHL job. Artur Akhtyamov is one of the organization's top prospects in net and could put some pressure on Stolarz during training camp.
That doesn't mean Stolarz is suddenly on his way out. Goaltending prospects can take time, and Toronto isn't going to hand a starting job to Akhtyamov simply because he's ready for a bigger opportunity. But if Akhtyamov looks good in camp and proves he can handle NHL minutes, Chayka and Jim Hiller will have a decision to make.
The Maple Leafs don't have much cap space to work with, so every contract matters, especially when they are trying to get back to the playoffs. If Joshua can't hold onto his spot or Akhtyamov forces his way onto the roster, Toronto may have to make a difficult decision before the calendar flips to 2027.
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