Breaking: Toronto Maple Leafs G… Anthony Stolarz Excited to… Read More.
Toronto Maple Leafs G… Anthony Stolarz Excited to… Read More.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ newest goaltender, Anthony Stolarz, is eager for a fresh start after a whirlwind few months.
Following his free agency signing with the Leafs on July 1st, Stolarz had just come off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers on June 24th and attended their victory parade on June 30th.
He recently shared his excitement about joining the Leafs on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill.
The Maple Leafs are relying on a goaltending duo of Stolarz and Joseph Woll, who have a combined experience of only 144 NHL games.
Both goalies have solid stats, and the Leafs are hopeful that their improved defense will support them.
Stolarz will also reunite with former Panthers teammate, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and is familiar with Max Domi and Mitch Marner from their time together in the OHL with the London Knights.
Stolarz mentioned that several Leafs players, including Woll, reached out to him after his signing, making his transition smoother.
Head coach Craig Berube is expected to rotate between Woll and Stolarz until one proves to be the top goaltender.
This competition is anticipated to elevate their performance, benefiting the team.
Both goalies aim to start over 30 games in a season for the first time in their careers, and monitoring them for fatigue, especially later in the season, will be essential.
Regarding the Leafs’ new goaltending duo:
Joseph Woll is viewed as the team’s future goaltender.
He is in the final year of his current contract but has signed a three-year extension starting next season, worth $3.66 million annually.
Last season, Woll had a 12-11-1 record with a 2.94 GAA and a .907 SV%.
Anthony Stolarz aims to prove himself as more than a backup. Last season, he achieved a 16-7-2 record with two shutouts, a 2.03 GAA, and a .925 SV%.
His experience from a cup-winning team could be valuable for the Leafs. Stolarz signed a two-year contract with the Leafs for $2.5 million per season.
About The Author
