Why the Maple Leafs Can't Afford to Trade Stolarz or Woll Ahead of a Demanding Season
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have several back-to-back games this season, and one way they can maneuver through the issues is thanks to their goaltending.
Last season brought in one of the biggest surprises of the 2024-25 campaign, that being the Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltending. .
Backed by Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, the two gave Toronto the best backstop combination in their history, and if it wasn't for Stolarz 's injury during Game One of the second round of the playoffs; things might be wildly different.
Toronto lucky to have Woll and Stolarz thanks to schedule issues
However, it almost seems like GM Brad Treliving has some pretty good foresight, and may have anticipated the need to have some great goaltending.
There's been some chatter recently about whether or not the team should trade either man in order to bring that offensive punch they need; but that's asking to give up a lot of the team's foundation.
But they really shouldn't even if they wanted to because having both of gives Toronto the best chance to win, and certainly gives them the opportunity to deal with some pretty rough scheduling a bit easier.
The Maple Leafs have a staggering 15 back-to-back games, and while it's nothing new considering they had a ton of those this season as well, it's still a really rough road to navigate.
Which is why it's great that Treliving was able to bring in Stolarz; someone expected to play backup, and he ran with the starting job, and is primed for a big extension in the near future.
But he also missed a month of the season in December, and Woll may not have been the Vezina-level player Stolarz was, he held down the fort more than admirably.
Toronto needs a healthy Woll and Stolarz in 2025
Most teams don't get the luxury of having two NHL-caliber starters in net, let alone one who is in his early 20's and one who is the league's best backup over the last two years.
Stolarz, 31, was stellar in his first season in Toronto, posting a 21-8-3 record with four shutouts, a .926 SV% with a 2.14 GAA.
Only signing a two-year, $5-million deal last summer, he's more than outplayed his contract and deserves a raise.
Woll, 27, didn't have as great a season as Stolarz, but still put up better than solid numbers.
He had a 27-14-1 record with a 2.73 GAA and .909 SV% and also dealt with an injury at the beginning of the season, leading to Stolarz being the de facto starter.
If both men can stay healthy and replicate their 2024 seasons, it's something that may give Toronto the edge most nights, a benefit they need given they won't have as much offense without Mitch Marner.
And if Stolarz can do what he did, but keep himself out of danger in the playoffs, we could see a Finals appearance
Not just an Eastern Conference one either.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 19 | 1842 ANSWERS Why the Maple Leafs Can't Afford to Trade Stolarz or Woll Ahead of a Demanding Season Who do you think should be the Maple Leafs starting goaltender? | ||
| Joseph Woll | 243 | 13.2 % |
| Anthony Stolarz | 1599 | 86.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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