Stolarz had a record of 16-7-2, with a 2.03 goals against average and a .925 save percentage in 27 regular season games in 2023-24.
As the offseason continues to heat up and transactions unfold, the Toronto Maple Leafs are actively exploring their own options. Despite needs in their offensive approach and defensive adjustments, the goaltending situation has been a focal point of discussion this summer.
With the news of Jacob Markstrom's acquisition by the New Jersey Devils Wednesday, a player the Leafs were rumored to pursue, the organization is now faced with pivoting to Plan B. On The Jeff Marek Show Thursday, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman joined to break down the move while pinpointing an intriguing candidate for the Leafs to chase.
“Toronto was in on Markstrom. I know there has been a lot linking them to Laurent Brossoit, which I think is true. The other guy I wonder about for Toronto is Anthony Stolarz. I don’t know what his future is going to be but he was very good for them this year,” said Friedman.
As highlighted by Friedman, there is a supposed mutual interest between Winnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit, a pending unrestricted free agent come July 1, and the Leafs. Brossoit, 31, is coming off a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Jets and had an impressive season behind Connor Hellebuyck, posting a 15-5-2 record with a 2.00 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.
But the other name Friedman mentioned was more of a surprise. Currently backing up to Sergei Bobrovsky is Anthony Stolarz, who is playing on a one-year $1.1 million contract with the Panthers. At 30 years of age, he appeared in 27 regular season games in 2023-24 and had a notable record of 16-7-2, with a 2.03 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. Stolarz substituted for Bobrovsky during the team’s 8-1 loss in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, allowing three goals on 19 shots.
Like Broissot, Stolarz is presented as a cheaper option with a combined 74 regular-season appearances over the last three seasons. However, he has stood out as one of the more reliable backups this season and could be an option that general manager Brad Treliving chooses to pursue come July 1.
The Leafs faced a challenging year that saw several goalies tend the net as injuries and inconsistency built up over a period of time. Joseph Woll has one more year remaining at a cap hit of $766,667 and both Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones become unrestricted free agents on July 1. The club still has the option to make a splash by trading for a high-profile goaltender, investing significantly in goaltending, or they can opt to go after a proven, cheaper ‘1b’ goaltender while addressing other needs.
Although inexpensive, Stolarz could become a competitive option for the Leafs – one that could be enticing if he exceeds the value of his contract.
