Anthony Stolarz joined Joseph Woll again as the only two goaltenders on the ice for the Leafs at Monday’s practice.
The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to the ice for practice on Monday following a day off in preparation for their Tuesday meeting with the Calgary Flames.
Among the participants on the ice was goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who joined Joseph Woll as the only other Maple Leaf netminder on the ice for the second consecutive session.
It signals continued progress for the injured 31-year-old Stolarz, who is rehabbing from a procedure to repair a loose body in his knee found in December. However, when asked about his plans for the crease Tuesday night in Calgary, head coach Craig Berube was noncommittal.
“I don't know yet. I'm thinking about it,” said Berube, his answer offering little insight into Tuesday’s starting role.
The conversation shifted to Stolarz, who has been sidelined since December 12. His recent participation in practice has raised questions about whether he would be ready to take the ice as a backup.
Berube acknowledged Stolarz's progress but was reluctant to give a clear indication that he would be an option for Tuesday's game.
“He's close. He's close,” explained Berube. “But I really don't know. I would tell you if I did. Okay. I would. You know that. I just, right now, I don't know. I don't know.”
The uncertainty continued when Berube was asked if there was even any benefit to having Stolarz dress as a backup before getting his first start back.
“Not necessarily, no. I don't. So, coming off an injury like that, I don't see a benefit. Him backing up, and you never know. Something happened. He goes in there cold. I don't see any benefit in that,” Berube added.
More on Stolarz’s Recovery
Stolarz revealed ahead of the club’s game against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday that “The biggest thing is angles. Just kind of know where you are. First couple practices (back from injury), you're two, three inches off. And, you know, that two, three inches, yeah, that makes all the difference.”
Though Berube was tight-lipped about his plans for Tuesday’s showdown in Calgary, Stolarz spoke with the media again after practice on Monday to discuss his recent strides in rehabilitation, expressing satisfaction.
“Yeah, it's been good. It's been nice to kind of just get back into full-ice drills and a more game-like situation,” said Stolarz. “Three-on-twos, two-on-ones, a little rush stuff, and zone stuff, so I did like the progress I've had so far.”
“It's been getting better and better every day, so I'm excited to get back out there. So, it's a process, and we put the work in, me and Sandy, so it's been good so far,” he added.
The Edison, New Jersey, native’s injury has required him to be sidelined for approximately four to six weeks. But his advancements seem to be moving in the right direction – looking to pick up where he left off in 2024.
When asked if he thought he’d be ready for Tuesday’s contest, Stolarz revealed that his timeline can continue to be measured by day-to-day.
“Just day-to-day,” said Stolarz. “That's all I'm kind of focused on, just making progress each and every day. And, like I said, physically, I feel great and can be happier where I'm at in terms of that. The staff, medical staff, and training staff have done a phenomenal job of pushing me and getting me back up to speed here, so I owe them a lot of credit. It’s just a day-to-day thing.”
Before the injury, Stolarz posted a 9-5-2 record, with a .927 save percentage and a 2.15 goals-against average. Based on his recent comments, Stolarz seems close to returning before the upcoming two-week break, but time will tell if he sees any playing time.
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