Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz workload strategy dictates the Maple Leafs' early schedule

This offseason, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka brought in two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergei Bobrovsky. The goaltender is now 37 years old, and before the season even starts, the team is facing a formidable challenge involving their netminder.

If the Leafs want to make a deep playoff run, it would be helpful to have a starting goaltender who is healthy and fresh. Consequently, the team should think about relying on backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz to carry a significant portion of the October schedule.

Toronto has reason to reduce Sergei Bobrovsky's workload early

During Bobrovsky's two Stanley Cup-winning seasons, he averaged a goals-against average of 2.40 and a save percentage of .910, all while playing between 54 and 58 games.

Bobrovsky played 52 games last season and finished with a 3.07 goals-against average and .877 save percentage, a significant decline from his previous two seasons. That does not prove age caused the drop, but at 37, Toronto has every reason to manage his workload rather than assume another 50-plus-start season is necessary.

Bobrovsky's durability has actually been one of his strengths, which John Chayka specifically cited after signing him. The question for Toronto is whether that durability should be used to maximize his regular-season starts or preserved with a more balanced tandem ahead of another potential playoff run.

That is where Anthony Stolarz comes in. The goaltender has been solid for the Maple Leafs over the past couple of seasons. 2025-26 was a down year, but during the 2024-25 season, Stolarz had a record of 21-8-3, a GAA of 2.14, and a save percentage of .926.

Toronto does not need Stolarz to reproduce his .926 save percentage from 2024-25 for this plan to work. It needs him to be reliable enough that Hiller can comfortably split back-to-backs and avoid using Bobrovsky simply because the schedule tightens. With 11 back-to-back sets on Toronto's schedule, those decisions can become part of the workload plan from the beginning of the season.

How Jim Hiller's defensive structure protects the crease

To keep Sergei Bobrovsky healthy, the Maple Leafs will also need to protect the crease and ensure fewer shots reach the net. Thankfully, head coach Jim Hiller and associate coach Daniel Alfredsson have a plan.

Toronto's offseason additions also give Hiller more defensive options in front of his goalies. Players such as Nick Paul and Colton Sissons can absorb difficult defensive assignments and penalty-killing work, while Chris Tanev remains one of the team's primary shot blockers when healthy.

The real test will be whether Stolarz gives Hiller enough confidence to manage Bobrovsky proactively instead of waiting until fatigue or performance forces the issue. Toronto signed Bobrovsky for playoff stability; how often it uses Stolarz during the regular season could determine how fresh that investment is when the games matter most.

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