The Toronto Maple Leafs are set in net for next year, with goaltenders Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll signed through the end of 2026. Woll is signed until the end of the 2027-28 season, but Stolarz will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after next season, so it's never too early to plan for the future.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have some promising young goaltenders in their system, with Artur Akhtyamov and Vyacheslav Peksa signed for next season. Dennis Hildeby is a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer and is likely to re-sign. However, goaltenders are a strange breed, and a team can never have enough of them, which brings me to Austin Elliott of the London Knights.
Austin Elliott is a 20-year-old goaltender from Strathmore, Alberta. He played with the Saskatoon Blades from 2022 to 2024 in the WHL before being traded to the London Knights in the OHL. Elliott began his 2024-25 season with a 3-0-0 record, with a 2.33 GAA, and a .897 SV% for the Blades before being traded to the Knights.
(All stats from eliteprospects.com)
After joining the Knights, Elliott went on an incredible run for his final CHL season. He played in 33 games for the Knights and finished with a 32-1-0 record which included four shutouts. For the Knights, Elliott finished with a 2.10 GAA and a .924 SV%. His 32 wins are one of the reasons the Knights finished first in the OHL Western Conference with a 55-11-2-0 record for 112 points.
Toronto Maple Leafs Familiar with Austin Elliott
The undrafted Elliott is committed to UMass-Lowell in the NCAA for the 2025-26 season.
That doesn't mean the Leafs still can't try to sign him with the hopes that he'll join the organization for the 2026-27 season. For the Leafs, that would be around the time when they could use some added goaltending depth. After finishing his CHL career with a 95-15-5 record, it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the NCAA.
Elliott is not an unknown to the Leafs. He took part in their 2023 development camp and noted that it was super cool and an experience that he will never forget. Elliott grew up as a fan of the Maple Leafs and would likely be interested if the Leafs came calling with a contract offer.
Leafs GM Brad Treliving has bigger issues to worry about, but don't think that the Leafs scouting staff will not be keeping an eye on the goaltender who just had a 35-1-0 season in the CHL.
Elliott's teammate Easton Cowan is the Leafs top prospect, and I'm sure Cowan can put in a good word to the Leafs brass on behalf of Elliott. Fans can expect Cowan to challenge for a main roster spot next season. First things first though, Cowan and Elliott need to help the Knights win a championship.