Is Anthony Stolarz the real deal?

[Dotter]

Yup.

Just like Raycroft, Toskala, Reimer, Bernier, Sparks, Andersen, Campbell, Murray, Samsonov....

Yeah, I'd put him smack dab in the middle of that list.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Your rebuild is running out of steam. Think you have to take care of your own house there before you start talking about other peoples lol

I have no idea what they're doing over in Detroit, but my God, there's hardly anything to that team. Really, really poor.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

Yeah, I'd put him smack dab in the middle of that list.

He looks better than all those guys.

He's not Cujo/Belfour, but so far he's looking good.

It's refreshing, and will surely turn out bad somehow.

 

[mobilus]

I have no idea what they're doing over in Detroit, but my God, there's hardly anything to that team. Really, really poor.

This league is so diluted now, being able to accumulate multiple high talent players is becoming harder and harder.

 

[PlayMakers]

Bruins are off to a really slow start so maybe not the best judge, but I thought he looked great in his two games against Boston this year.

 

[HairyKneel]

He has a 1.54GAA and .940SV% so far this year and has looked really good, almost too good to be a backup. Last year on Florida he put up numbers that a starter would. He went 16-7-2 on Florida with a 2.03GAA and a .925SV%. Those are numbers better than most starters last year.

So is he the real deal? As in a legit starter? He seems like the modern day Brian Elliott.

No

 

[Leaf Fans]

Maybe, but for many Leaf fans the biggest concern is whether he an be the real deal in the playoffs. He has has had a very promising start with the Leafs though.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

Stolarz is straight up a solid goalie.

 

[Smif]

He's huge, athletic when he needs to be, rarely caught out of position and calm. He's been great so far.

 

[CutOnDime97]

Always liked him in Philly

 

[LeafChief]

Stolarz has looked VERY good but it's been only 10 games.

If he continues this play into the 30-35 game mark, that's a different story. He's a player that is consistently injured. He hasn't proven that he can remain healthy for an extended period of time yet. I think that is a very important hurdle to be considered "the real deal".

With that said, I love what I have seen from him so far. He's been excellent.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Stolarz has looked VERY good but it's been only 10 games.

If he continues this play into the 30-35 game mark, that's a different story. He's a player that is consistently injured. He hasn't proven that he can remain healthy for an extended period of time yet. I think that is a very important hurdle to be considered "the real deal".

With that said, I love what I have seen from him so far. He's been excellent.

Also just has been in a clear backup role until now, never had the opportunity to take on a big workload for any great length of time. We'll see what happens, rooting for the guy.

 

[Smif]

Stolarz has looked VERY good but it's been only 10 games.

If he continues this play into the 30-35 game mark, that's a different story. He's a player that is consistently injured. He hasn't proven that he can remain healthy for an extended period of time yet. I think that is a very important hurdle to be considered "the real deal".

With that said, I love what I have seen from him so far. He's been excellent.

I did not know about him being consistently injured...

 

[Mike C]

Maybe, but for many Leaf fans the biggest concern is whether he an be the real deal in the playoffs. He has has had a very promising start with the Leafs though.

He's a good goalie.

As an Islanders fan, I've taken to calling their goalie Sirchokin based on his playoff well, chokes. In the playoffs it's about mental toughness as much as anything else. That's why guys like Billy Smith succeeded.

We don't know how Stolie will do in the clutch but other guys there have a spotty history

Totally agree with you that so far so good and thensone with him. He's done all that's been asked and more. I really like the guy!

 

[NVious]

Yup.

Just like Raycroft, Toskala, Reimer, Bernier, Sparks, Andersen, Campbell, Murray, Samsonov....

I don't think even Andersen had a run like Stolarz in any 10 games.

The rest of the guys even less so.

Honestly the only Leaf goalie that was really hyped in the last 20 years was Gustavsson and maybe Pogge for a bit.

 

[hamzarocks]

I don't think even Andersen had a run like Stolarz in any 10 games.

The rest of the guys even less so.

Honestly the only Leaf goalie that was really hyped in the last 20 years was Gustavsson and maybe Pogge for a bit.

Andersen and Campbell both have 10 game runs as good as Stolarz

Campbell had like a .942 SV% after his first 20 starts in 2021-2022

Andersen also had elite stretches between 2017 and 2020 (first 20 starts in 18-19 had a .932 SV%, first 27 starts in 19-20 had a .921 SV% for example)

Stolarz can hopefully stay elite and be a good playoff goalie

 

[leafsfan5]

Andersen and Campbell both have 10 game runs as good as Stolarz

Campbell had like a .942 SV% after his first 20 starts in 2021-2022

Andersen also had elite stretches between 2017 and 2020 (first 20 starts in 18-19 had a .932 SV%, first 27 starts in 19-20 had a .921 SV% for example)

Stolarz can hopefully stay elite and be a good playoff goalie

People forget how good Campbell was for this first 1.5 seasons after coming to Toronto

He had a .930 in his first 46 starts as a Maple Leafs over those seasons. The wheels really came off at the beginning of 2022 and he never recovered

Stolarz is more technically sound so the hope is he doesn't falter as significantly, but we'll see how the workload is on him

 

[Dotter]

He looks better than all those guys.

He's not Cujo/Belfour, but so far he's looking good.

It's refreshing, and will surely turn out bad somehow.

I mean it's like clockwork these same TML goalie threads pop up every November. They all end the same. What makes this season any different?

Just like TML's playoff track record; death, taxes, TML playoff failures. It's guaranteed!

"this time it's different!" ~ Says almost every TML fan (every early November).

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

No. Evander Holyfield is.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Is Stolarz the real deal?
Is Lankinen the best goalie in the NHL?
We need a much larger sample size.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I mean it's like clockwork these same TML goalie threads pop up every November. They all end the same. What makes this season any different?

Just like TML's playoff track record; death, taxes, TML playoff failures. It's guaranteed!

"this time it's different!" ~ Says almost every TML fan (every early November).

Can't really say anything against this, pretty valid counter point. I don't think anyone is saying Stolarz is the best goalie in the league or anything. We've all been hurt too many times to believe this quickly. But with what we have seen so far, he is really good.

 

[HairyKneel]

I did not know about him being consistently injured...

Look at the size of him. He's built like an offensive lineman. He's not long for the league. He's like a taller Chris Farley.

 

[Smif]

Look at the size of him. He's built like an offensive lineman. He's not long for the league. He's like a taller Chris Farley.

That's a stupid take. I loved Chris Farley but he was the furthest thing from an athlete. Stolarz is healthy and athletic.and not thick??

 

[Pablo El Perro]

He uses his size better than most tall goalies. He's efficient and relies on good positioning better than most. So, yeah, he's real. And, no he's not fat.

 

[BKarchitect]

Is Stolarz the real deal?
Is Lankinen the best goalie in the NHL?
We need a much larger sample size.

To be fair, over the last 4 seasons we do have pretty ample sample size for overall performance…

Stolarz: 84 games, 2.56 GAA, 0.917 sv%
Lankinen: 84 games, 2.98 GAA, 0.905 sv%

I’m not suggesting we should about Stolarz a top 10 starter, or that it is a guarantee he keeps this up over a single season starting goalie workload. But I think he’s been very, very good for a while now. And he’s older and not a sexy name (at least he wasn’t until the Leafs signed him), so there is probably a bit more doubt built in than there should be. He wouldn’t be the first goalie to peak as a solid starter later in his career after shorter, very good stints in net.