Maple Leafs Still in the Dark on Anthony Stolarz Injury as Goalie Depth Gets Tested
The mystery surrounding Anthony Stolarz’s injury continues to deepen, and with each passing game, the silence from the Toronto Maple Leafs grows louder. What was initially described as a short-term absence has now stretched into weeks, and there’s still no clear timeline for his return. For a team that penciled in Stolarz as their go-to netminder to start the season, the lack of clarity is becoming a real concern.
Stolarz exited the Leafs’ November 11 matchup against the Bruins with what the team called an “upper-body injury.” Since then, there’s been no public update on his status, and more notably, he hasn’t returned to the ice.
That’s raised eyebrows not just in Toronto, but across the league. When a player with starting responsibilities vanishes from the lineup without a clear explanation, it doesn’t take long for the questions to start piling up.
Insider Darren Dreger recently weighed in on the situation, confirming that even behind the scenes, information is scarce. Speaking on TSN 1050, Dreger noted there’s still no timeline for Stolarz’s return - a telling sign considering the initial expectation was that he’d miss only a few days. Instead, the absence has stretched into double-digit games, and the Leafs haven’t offered any further specifics.
This kind of uncertainty is rare, especially for a player who was expected to play such a critical role. And when someone as plugged-in as Dreger doesn’t have a read on the situation, it underscores just how tight-lipped the organization has been.
Goaltending Depth Being Pushed to the Limit
In the meantime, the Leafs have had to adjust on the fly. Joseph Woll has stepped into the starter’s role and held his own.
He’s been solid - not flawless - but dependable enough to keep the team in games. That said, the Leafs can’t afford to overextend him.
With the grind of the NHL season in full swing, overworking a young goalie can be a risky proposition.
Backing up Woll is Dennis Hildeby, who’s shown flashes of promise but is still in the early stages of his NHL career. He’s handled his responsibilities admirably so far, but leaning too heavily on a young, relatively untested netminder is far from ideal for a team with playoff aspirations.
Beyond Hildeby, the Leafs’ depth chart gets thin fast. Artur Akhtyamov, Ken Appleby, and Vyacheslav Peksa are all part of the organizational pipeline, but none are considered NHL-ready. If Woll or Hildeby were to suffer an injury, Toronto would be in scramble mode.
Trade Market Looming?
With the goalie situation in flux, Toronto may be forced to look externally for help. Chicago’s Laurent Brossoit is reportedly available, and he could be a stopgap solution if the Leafs decide they can’t wait any longer on Stolarz. But acquiring him would come at a cost - and Toronto doesn’t have a surplus of trade assets to work with.
That’s the tightrope the Leafs are walking right now. They need stability in net to stay competitive, especially if they’re going to be fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch. But they also can’t afford to make a panic move that mortgages the future.
What makes this all the more frustrating is the complete lack of transparency. Last season, when Stolarz missed time, the team disclosed that he underwent a knee procedure to clean up cartilage and address some structural issues.
This time around, there’s been no such clarity. That opens the door to speculation - not because fans or media are trying to stir the pot, but because the silence leaves a vacuum.
At this point, the Leafs - and everyone watching - are left in limbo. Whether Stolarz returns in two weeks or two months, nobody knows. And until the team lifts the curtain even slightly, the “Mystery of Anthony Stolarz” will continue to hang over Toronto’s crease.