#2 Anthony Stolarz
When Anthony Stolarz was signed this past offseason to work in tandem with Joseph Woll in the Leafs’ crease, many expected Stolarz to be primarily the backup and at most, get an even share of starts as the 1A or 1B option in net. However, when Woll started the year on the injured reserve, it suddenly thrusted Stolarz into a starting role in which he flourished with flying colours. He successfully held the fort down until Woll’s eventual return and they evolved into a dynamic duo ever since.
To date, Stolarz has compiled a stellar 9-5-2 record with a sparkling 2.15 GAA and .927 save percentage in 17 games played to rank among the top goaltenders in the league.
Unfortunately, an ill-timed knee injury in mid-December interrupted his sensational run and has put him out of action ever since. The projected timeline of his recovery has Stolarz on track to return some time later in January.
With him on the sidelines, the Leafs have been forced to use Woll way more than expected, while requiring the emergency services of Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby during tight game schedules as a result.
Woll has certainly done his part in keeping the Maple Leafs afloat with the increased playing time. But given his previous injury history along with the fact that he has never seen more than 25 games of action in a season since 2019-20 with the Toronto Marlies, they desperately need Stolarz back as soon as possible.
That way, it would ensure that Woll can stay healthy and remain effective with a more manageable workload. Therefore, the return of Stolarz will be crucial for the Leafs successful goaltending down the stretch during the second half of the season.