Maple Leafs Officially Lock In Dennis Hildeby With New Contract

After months without a deal and questions about whether or not he is still going to be a member of the Maple Leafs come October, it seems that goaltender Dennis Hildeby is going to be sticking around for the long-haul.

The Maple Leafs announced on social media that the team had locked up Hildeby to a three-year deal on Tuesday, as it finally indicates that Brad Treliving is indeed making moves, and now has his emergency backup for the season.

The deal is a two-way contract for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, followed by a one-way contract in 2027-28, carrying an average annual value of $841,667.

Hildeby made his NHL debut last season, and posted a 3-3-0 record with a 3.13 GAA and .878 SV%; he was drafted 122nd overall by the team in 2022.

With Hildeby locked up alongside Woll for the foreseeable future, we seem to have the future of the Maple Leafs goaltending in good hands. Anthony Stolarz is a free agent after this season, but if they were to extend him, it would give Hildeby enough time to get acclimated to take over on a regular basis.

It also means the team now solidifies their goaltending situation for both the big club and the Marlies.

Hildeby will likely get the bulk of starts alongside Artur Akhtyamov in the AHL, however is going to be the first to be called upon for help, and the Marlies can rely on veteran Ken Appleby to help out when Hildeby leaves.

Fans can breathe a little easier knowing they have some solid goaltending locked up for a bit, and if Stolarz can re-sign for a couple more seasons, then it can turn into the Woll and Hildeby show in say, 2028-29?

With the Maple Leafs still on the lookout for a top-six forward, Hildeby's new deal is certainly enticing for a team like Pittsburgh who could use a goaltender with upside and term, allowing him to be their rebuilding crease commander.

Who wouldn't want a 6'7, 24-year old goaltender who has the potential to be a legitimate starter in the league? Toronto is lucky now with the goaltending pipeline they have, and losing Hildeby isn't as bad as it would be previously.

Artur Akhtyamov and Ken Appleby are good enough to hold down the fort for the Marlies, and Slava Peksa and Timofei Obvinstev are both raw, young prospects but have a ton of potential.

With the potential of Anthony Stolarz re-signing, and Woll locked up; Hildeby could be viewed as expendable if he's able to bring in help that will actually produce (Bryan Rust perhaps?)

But it might be in Toronto's best interest to hold onto their young goalie.

Just in case of emergency.