Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Marlies to Watch Heading Into the New Year

3 Marlies to Watch Heading Into the New Year

2. Dennis Hildeby (Goalie)

Everyone knows that the Toronto Maple Leafs have goaltending issues at the moment.

With Joseph Woll hurt for the foreseeable future and Ilya Samsonov being put on waivers, Martin Jones has been the go-to guy as of late.

Jones' play has been a coin flip through his first 7 appearances with the Leafs. The team cannot hope to go forward with Jones, because he's been a bad NHL goalie for almost five seasons now.

He has been unable to steal games for the Maple Leafs - like Woll was - but has performed above expectation posting a .914 SV%, 2.85 GAA and a 3.4 goals saved above expected. Those are good stats, but keep in mind, the sample size is extremely small.

Despite these solid stats, Keefe was still starting Samsonov every other game - who is currently the worst active goalie in the league - which is why Hildeby should be called up to split games with Jones, or depending on how he does, possibly be the starter until Woll is back.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 Entry Draft, Hildeby has taken over the starting job with the Marlies ever since the departure of Martin Jones. In 14 games with the Marlies, he has a 7-5-2 with a .920 SV% and 2.15 GAA. Hildeby is described as a poised goaltender with great lateral movement and is dynamic in the net.

With the way the Leafs goalies are playing right now, their is no harm in giving Hildeby a shot in the NHL.