Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] G Anthony Stolarz signs with the Maple Leafs (2 years, $2.5M AAV)

[Felidae]

I think Stolarz has a chance to surprise people here. He hasn't had an opportunity as a starter, but he's been one of the best backup goalies in the league for a few years now.

Led the league in sv% this year, but also finished 9th in sv% in 2021 behind a pretty mediocre Anaheim team that ranked 23rd in GA. He had the down year in 2022, but Anaheim that year finished last in almost every statistical category. Overall, he has the 14th highest sv% in the league (100 games).

So even if his numbers aren't sustained as a starting goaltender, he should still be one of the best backups in the league.

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

Great signing. Should split with Woll as they're gonna be careful playing him too much.

 

[bossram]

The Leafs do realize at some point you need a starting goalie, right?

You can't just keep collecting a basket of backups and then being mad when they don't perform in the playoffs. At some point you want quality over quantity.

Why? This is the Vegas model of goaltending and they won a Cup.

They used like 5 goalies that season, none of which were considered a starter before the season began.

Stolarz was excellent with Florida. It's a decent bet the Leafs are making that he can be at least a 1B.

The bigger issue is Woll's health issues and that they committed a bigger deal to him.

 

[5 Hole]

Liked him a lot in FL. He played very well for us when called upon. Good luck!

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I could see this guy being molded into an Adin Hill if the Leafs go with a 1A/1B setup. Have to factor in Woll unable to stay healthy.

 

[Curufinwe]

When a young Stolie was getting trashed on twitter by an idiot Flyers beat writer years ago, I tweeted a rebuttal and Stolarz liked it. That writer was Frank Seravalli.

So happy for Stolie he got a Cup ring and a relatively big money deal.

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

Woll is the starting goalie

Coin flip tossing a guy who's played 39 games into a starting role....
He looked fine in the playoffs until he got hurt. But if you're banking on a guy with 39 games to be a #1 goalie, you're going to have a problem more than likely.

 

[Strangle]

Coin flip tossing a guy who's played 39 games into a starting role....
He looked fine in the playoffs until he got hurt. But if you're banking on a guy with 39 games to be a #1 goalie, you're going to have a problem more than likely.

You go with the best player, that’s Woll hands down.

We can circle back on this at the all-star break and see where the team is at with goaltending