MAPLELEAFSDAILY | NHL TEAM | TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Reporter believes that the Maple Leafs made a critical error this summer

PUBLICATION

Mike Armenti
July 28, 2024 (11:20)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs made quite a few changes this summer, but one reporter believes that they also made a pretty big mistake with Anthony Stolarz.

The Maple Leafs stepped up their efforts to improve in goal this summer following the departure of Ilya Samsonov after a very up and down year.

After making a pitch to the Calgary Flames for veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom, it was clear that the Leafs wanted to swing big this summer. However, with Markstrom landing in New Jersey and Juuse Saros staying in Nashville, the lack of a clear and true number one goalie forced the Leafs to instead seek out a good 1B option to play behind young netminder Joseph Woll.

Enter Anthony Stolarz.

Must read on MapleLeafsDaily

Fans make a very reasonable request of the Maple Leafs regarding Matthew Knies

Reporter suggests Central Division team making Mitch Marner a priority

After posting a 16-7-2 across 27 games with the Florida Panthers last season, complete with a sparkling .925 SV% and a 2.03 GAA, Stolarz was looking for a situation in free agency that may allow him to play more than he has in the past. He may have found that opportunity in Toronto, playing behind an oft-injured partner in Woll.

While his career .915 SV% is a pretty good indicator that Stolarz is a quality netminder, Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell believes that he's due to come back down to Earth next season, which could pose a big problem for the Maple Leafs.

"Stolarz has only established a consistent backup role for himself in the past few seasons, but in 2023-24, he was arguably the best backup goaltender in the league, with the second-best save percentage among goalies with at least 20 games played and the seventh-best GSAx in the league. However, with a career .915 SV%, it's tough to expect him to repeat that for next season. He did have an .899 SV% the year prior, so last season may have been the positive regression. But I'd expect him to come back down to Earth next season, especially behind a Toronto Maple Leafs team that will probably not be as good defensively as the Panthers were last year, even with their upgrades on the blueline."
-Maxwell on Stolarz

The Leafs will sink or swim with their goaltending in 2024-25, so not only do they need both Stolarz and Woll to remain healthy, but the team also needs them to remain productive and give the team quality starts. No, the Leafs don't need Stolarz to post a .925 SV% again this season, but they do need him to remain at or above his career average and not dip below that number this season.

Do you think the Leafs made a mistake in not paying up for a true #1 goalie this summer? Let us know in the poll below.

Source: Daily Faceoff10 Players In Danger of Regression

Source: HockeyDBAnthony Stolarz Statistics

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Fans make a very reasonable request of the Maple Leafs regarding Matthew Knies

Auston Matthews gives us a glimpse of what he's been up to this summer

Reporter suggests Central Division team making Mitch Marner a priority

POLL
28 JUILLET \| 2112 ANSWERS Reporter believes that the Maple Leafs made a critical error this summer Did the Leafs make a mistake in not trading for a true number one goalie this summer?
Yes	888	42 %
No, the Woll/Stolarz tandem is a fine tandem	1138	53.9 %
I'm in the	86	4.1 %
List of polls