Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz is off to a great start. So much so that he could contend for the Vezina Trophy if he keeps up his current pace.
Winning the Vezina would be a considerable feat as the last time a Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender won the award was way back in 1964-65 when Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower shared the honor.
It’s mind-boggling to consider that situation when the Leafs have had top-tier goalies in the past such as Curtis Joseph, Ed Belfour, or prime Felix Potvin.
But could Anthony Stolarz really have a legitimate chance at winning the award? He does have incredible numbers right now, but let's keep in mind, he's only played give games for the Leafs, and has never played over 30 games in any NHL season.
He's also 31, and most goalies need to build a body of work before the writers will give them the big award at the end of the season. However, that hasn't always been the case - there are lots of one-offs who have won it, and the goalie position is incredibly volatile to the point where Stolarz winning the awards wouldn't even be that much of a suprise.
So yes, we are well aware that this is a little silly after just five games (he played last night, but this was written ahead of time). And yes, we know that his numbers will not remain this high and that regression is almost guaranteed.
Nevertheless, here’s a look at three reasons why he might just join other unlikely winners like Jim Carey in 1996 or Jose Theodore in 2002.