The hidden clause in Anthony Stolarz's contract that silences every trade rumor
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
If fans were thinking the Maple Leafs may entertain trading Anthony Stolarz, a clause in his contract shows that's not going to be a possibility for the goaltender.
While he is currently on the shelf with an injury and no clear timeline for a return, Anthony Stolarz remains a key piece of the Maple Leafs' puzzle, even if his impact is currently limited to the sidelines.
Struggling this season, something was bothering him enough to take time off and in his stead both Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have held down the fort and kept Toronto in games while Stolarz recovers.
Why the trade chatter is getting louder
But with the team also wanting to improve in a couple of areas on the team, they will need as many assets to trade away as possible, and with several NHL clubs needing goalie help; Stolarz seems like a perfect fit.
Teams like Edmonton and Winnipeg need goaltending for various reasons, and with both of them looking to push for a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, adding someone like Stolarz may just get them there.
Plus as previously stated, the Maple Leafs want to improve however don't have a ton of premium assets, so dealing a starter with proven experience and great career numbers could be enough of a piece to get a trade done to improve elsewhere.
That would leave Toronto with only Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby, but if the team can improve in front of them, they might not face as much trouble going forward.
The specific contract detail that blocks a move for Anthony Stolarz
However a deeper dive into his contract details show that any fans who were worried about a potential deal should take a big breath of relief.
According to MatthewsFan on X, a provision in Stolarz's contract gives him a ton of security when it comes to a trade.
To sum up the post, the Maple Leafs have placed a full no-trade clause in Stolarz's remaining contract that expires this summer, at which point his new extension would kick in.
Even then, his typical 8-team no trade list becomes a 16-team list instead next season, giving him the power to block a trade to half the NHL.
Stolarz could have gotten a big pay raise this summer, even with his injury issues but decided to stay in Toronto because he believed in the team and its vision.
So it feels even less likely that he would really approve of any deal or has any intentions of leaving and Toronto finally has stability in net for the future and trading Stolarz jeopardizes that to some degree.
Fans who were thinking that Stolarz may be a casualty of Toronto's trade plans can rest easy. He's not going to leave anytime soon, and will impact the lineup when he comes back though that date is still a complete mystery.
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