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Players to watch during the Toronto Maple Leafs preseason

Increased depth, youth, and new faces provide many interesting subplots to the Leafs preseason.

By Jeremy Franks

Sep 30, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Easton Cowan (53) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Sep 30, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Easton Cowan (53) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images / David Kirouac-Imagn Images
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Both Leafs goalies have something to prove

The Leafs have revamped their goaltending. The biggest switch was replacing the departed Ilya Samsonov with free-agent signing Anthony Stolarz, formerly of the Florida Panthers.

Behind them, Matt Murray has returned as third-string insurance. His tenure in Toronto has been sidetracked by injuries.

The key for the goaltenders is health. Joseph Woll, a Leafs homegrown pick and projected starter, has flashed brilliance during his NHL appearances but has also fought the injury bug.

Woll, if healthy, has flashed the potential to be a top-ten NHL goaltender. His sample size is limited, but his past two postseason performances were the best goaltending the Leafs have had during the Auston Matthews era. Woll's durability and availability for 40-plus games will place the team near the top of the Eastern Conference.

Just as important will be Stolarz's performance with an increased workload. The Maple Leafs likely envision a 50-50 split between the netminders. That means Stolarz will be counted on to play many more games than his career-high of 28 played during the 2021-2022 season with the Anaheim Ducks.

The size of Stolarz is an added benefit and he played well last season for the Panthers as well as the 2021-2022 season with the Ducks.

How Stolarz handles more playing time in the spotlight of Toronto on a team with aspirations of a long playoff run will be an intriguing development to follow.

Bringing back Murray as insurance for the third-string role was an underrated quality move by Treliving. The Leafs are familiar with him and have overseen his rehabilitation from his assorted injuries.

Murray also brings experience as a starter and winning cup titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is only 30 years old and is a worthy candidate should the Leafs need his services for a handful of games this season.

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