Insider Drops New Info on Maple Leafs' Negotiations with Anthony Stolarz

With free agent dwindling down after a frenzied first day of the open market, the biggest news recently is the Carolina Hurricanes signing Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year deal, giving them an incredible offensive punch as they try to sit atop the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26.

The Maple Leafs have been pretty quiet, only making a handful of depth signings, however the team is expected to make waves in the trade market instead, with names like Nazem Kadri potentially coming into the fray.

But they also need to focus on some of their other roster players who need an extension, and none is more important than Anthony Stolarz.

A bargain signing last summer, he came in and was lights out for the Maple Leafs and was a huge reason for their Atlantic Division success alongside Joseph Woll.

But he's in the final year of his deal, and with Toronto having him part of their best goaltending duo in history, they would love to keep him around.

According to Leafs analyst Nick Alberga, Stolarz's contract hasn't been a focal point so far this summer:

It's clear the Maple Leafs are trying to find a trade for a premium forward and that's going to take time. Stolarz can sign an extension in a few weeks once they figure out everything, but they really shouldn't wait too long.

There's also no real reason for Toronto to wait too long after they get that forward to lock up Stolarz. He was signed to a very cheap two-year, $5-million deal last summer and would be due for a mighty pay raise.

If Toronto is confident in the 31 year old that he and Woll can lead the team through those Atlantic Division waters, and there's no reason to say they can't; then he deserves at least double what he got last summer.

Woll is extended for the next three years, so it would be feasible to extend Stolarz for another three or four years at $5-million a season; to have both of their goaltenders locked up for a total of $8.6-million is an incredible bargain considering some teams are paying one goalie that much alone.

In his first season with Toronto, Stolarz dealt with some injury issues but still managed to post a 21-8-3 record with 2.14 GAA and .926 SV%; he went 4-2-0 with a 2.19 GAA and .901 SV% before being knocked out of the postseason.