Dennis Hildeby's elite Scotiabank Arena numbers prove he is officially ready for the NHL jump
Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
While Toronto has been underwhelmed by their goaltending duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, Dennis Hildeby's stats at Scotiabank Arena show he's an NHL ready goaltender.
The hopes that the Stolarz/Woll tandem could be the right duo for the Leafs has seemingly fallen apart this season after looking like the answer last season.
Injuries to both netminders had allowed for AHL rookie Dennis Hildeby to find his way into the Leafs net, and he looked like Toronto's most consistent netminder of the three.
With the Leafs, Hildeby this season has a 5-6-4 record with a 2.84 GAA and a .912 SV% in 19 games. In the AHL, Hildeby has a 2.45 GAA and a .906 SV% in 16 games with the Marlies.
What makes Hildeby look even more promising, is what he's able to do when he's at Scotiabank Arena, and why he might be Toronto,'s answer for next season.
Hildeby's Scotiabank splits reportedly expose a massive gap in the Maple Leafs' goaltending hierarchy
Dennis Hildeby has been a rock at home for Toronto. With the Marlies, Hildeby has a 5-0-2 record when the farm team plays in the Leafs arena.
As well, Hildeby has a 1.81 GAA and a .925 SV% in the Arena. As a Leaf this season, Hildeby has a 2-2-3 record at home with a 2.85 GAA and a .920 SV%.
In comparison, at the NHL level, Hildeby has a 3-4-1 record on the road with Toronto, along with a 2.95 GAA and a .899 SV%.
Anthony Stolarz has not fared any better on road trips, having a 3-4-1 record this season, and a 3.53 GAA and .898 SV%. At home, Stolarz has a 3.20 GAA and .890 SV%.
Joseph Woll is the only goalie with a SV% above .900 both home and away, having a .903 SV% at Sotiabank Arena and .907 SV% on the road.
It's the record outside of Toronto that may be keeping Dennis Hildeby from the NHL right away, but his home record shows that he's capable of being the Leafs most dependable netminder.
The emergence of Artur Akhtyamov
reportedly puts the Stolarz-Woll tandem on a firm expiration date
The Toronto Maple Leafs are already facing questions over their tandem of Stolarz and Woll and if the two will be the team's duo next season, and Hildeby presents a greater threat to that plan.
Hildeby is making a strong case for the Leafs roster next season, and with Stolarz and Woll having underperformed, one of the two could be out the door.
Having both Stolarz and Woll locked up long-term, the last thing Toronto would have wanted is for one, or both moving out this offseason.
It isn't just Hildeby breathing down the starters backs. Fellow rookie Artur Akhtyamov had recentlysigned an extension with Toronto that becomes a one-way deal in the 2027-28 season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs face a challenging goaltending situation that the team is still trying to solve, and Dennis Hildeby is rapidly looking like an answer.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 20|963 ANSWERS Dennis Hildeby's elite Scotiabank Arena numbers prove he is officially ready for the NHL jump Should Dennis Hildeby be on the Leafs full time next season? | ||
| Yes | 870 | 90.3 % |
| No | 93 | 9.7 % |
| List of polls | ||