What kind of offer it would take for the Maple Leafs to trade Anthony Stolarz
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Athletic's James Mirtle joined JD Bunkis on his podcast to discuss the Maple Leafs, and the topic of a potential Anthony Stolarz trade came up as they talked about potential costs.
Currently on the shelf with no timetable for a return, Anthony Stolarz has struggled this season both on and off the ice. He hasn't been able to stay healthy, and that may have factored into his performance on the ice as he's the polar opposite of the player we saw last year.
He's part of a long list of Maple Leafs goaltenders who are out injured including Joseph Woll, who has a lower-body injury, and Ken Appleby; who is out week-to-week for the Marlies.
It led to the Maple Leafs needing to sign Brendan Bonello to a PTO on Wednesday in order to help out Peksa and the Marlies. But when they all get healthy, the team is going to have a logjam in net.
Could Anthony Stolarz be traded? One insider thinks it's possible
With Dennis Hildeby being as solid as he has been this season, and Woll just reaching his prime, there is a chance that of all people Stolarz will be on the outside looking in.
It was a topic on the JD Bunkis podcast on Wednesday, where Bunkis was joined by The Athletic's James Mirtle. The two discussed various Maple Leafs and NHL topics when the idea of a Stolarz trade came up.
While it doesn't seem like an idea that Toronto would consider given how much stock they put into him, Mirtle believes that a big package could get it done; though with his health that could be unlikely:
The only way I'd do it is if a team offers something substantial. I can't imagine anybody is going to give up anything for Anthony Stolarz with how hurt he's been.
Stolarz has been on the shelf since Nov. 11 and there has been no direct information from either the team or any insiders that give a timeline for his return; he hasn't taken the ice yet as far as we know, and who knows how long it'll be before that.
One issue that may prevent a deal is that Stolarz has a full no-trade clause in his contract until this summer, when his new extension and conditions kick in, so getting a deal done is 100% dependent on Stolarz wanting out.
Why teams might be hesitant to trade for Anthony Stolarz
Factor in a fairly extensive injury history and you have to start to wonder if Toronto can afford to keep him if he can't stay on the ice. He signed a very team-friendly deal so that's a positive in one aspect, but it's still wasted money if he's consistently hurt.
This season, Stolarz has a 6-5-1 record with a 3.51 GAA and .884 SV% while allowing 41 goals so far already this year. Compare it to last year where he had a 21-8-3 record with a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% and was lights out the majority of the season.
But he missed over a month last year with a knee procedure, and got a concussion in the second round of the playoffs. This newest injury makes it three long-term absences in a year, and if teams are going to part with a fairly lucrative package to add Stolarz; they aren't guaranteed a lot.
If they do decide to part with assets, they aren't going to be dishing out their top names and if Toronto is set on improving their top-six up front or a top-four puck moving defender, they may be hard-pressed to get one in a Stolarz trade.
Right now, the best case scenario is that Stolarz gets healthy and finds the form he had last season, and combined with Woll and Hildeby taking some starts in order to ease his workload, he could work his way back to the goalie we all know he can be.
But it starts with can he stay healthy, and right now that's the biggest question of all.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 11 | 1299 ANSWERS What kind of offer it would take for the Maple Leafs to trade Anthony Stolarz Should the Maple Leafs trade Anthony Stolarz? | ||
| Yes | 841 | 64.7 % |
| No | 458 | 35.3 % |
| List of polls | ||