The Toronto Maple Leafs are back in the trade conversation, and this time, the focus is squarely on their goaltending situation. It’s been a season of ups and downs in Toronto, and with the team looking to find stability heading into the stretch run, the front office appears open to making moves-especially in the crease.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, veteran goaltender Anthony Stolarz has surfaced in trade discussions. That might raise some eyebrows considering the Leafs just extended Stolarz with a $15 million deal back in September. But in a league where performance and durability are everything-especially between the pipes-it’s not hard to see why Toronto may be re-evaluating.
Stolarz has had a rough go this season. After missing a significant chunk of time earlier in the year due to injury, he’s only recently returned to action.
But the numbers haven’t been kind. Through 16 games, Stolarz owns a 3.55 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage-far from the elite level he showed last season, when he posted a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage over 34 games.
That kind of drop-off is hard to ignore, especially for a team trying to solidify its playoff positioning.
Friedman acknowledged the surprise factor during a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, noting the timing of the trade chatter so soon after Stolarz’s extension. “Stolarz, to me, is an interesting one,” Friedman said.
“This is a guy who just extended a few months ago. I’m curious about the fact that they are already looking to trade him.
If they’re worried about him physically, that’s one thing, but a year ago, him and [Joseph] Woll were the second-best goalies in the league.”
That’s the crux of the issue for Toronto. Last season, the tandem of Woll and Stolarz gave the Leafs one of the most dependable goaltending duos in the league.
This year, it’s been a different story, with both dealing with injuries and inconsistency. And when your goaltending isn’t steady, it ripples through the entire lineup.
Enter Dennis Hildeby.
The 6-foot-6 Swedish netminder was called up from the AHL when Stolarz went down, and he’s made the most of his opportunity. In 19 games, Hildeby has turned in a solid 2.84 GAA and a .912 save percentage-numbers that don’t just keep you in games, but give your team a chance to win.
He’s looked calm, composed, and ready for the NHL stage. And that’s changed the calculus for Toronto.
With Hildeby emerging, Woll working his way back, and Stolarz struggling to regain last season’s form, the Leafs suddenly have a logjam in goal-and some tough decisions to make.
General Manager Brad Treliving recently hinted that the team could pivot toward being sellers if things don’t turn around. But three straight wins have kept them in the playoff mix, and that could shift the mindset back toward contending. Either way, the Leafs are clearly evaluating all options, and Stolarz’s name being floated suggests they’re not afraid to make bold moves if it helps stabilize the roster.
Nothing is set in stone yet. But with injuries, inconsistency, and a rising young goaltender in the mix, Toronto’s crease is one of the more intriguing situations to watch as the trade deadline approaches. The Leafs are keeping their options open-and that could mean a shakeup is coming.