The Maple Leafs lost goalie Anthony Stolarz to a lower-body injury Thursday, but Adam Proteau says Toronto's admirable netminding depth is still a strength for the Buds.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had an injury scare Thursday, losing goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a lower-body injury in their game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Stolarz is expected to be day-to-day, coach Craig Berube told reporters Friday. However, if there’s one bright light in the dark region surrounding Stolarz’s brief absence, it’s the Leafs’ admirable depth in net.
The Maple Leafs recalled Dennis Hildeby from the AHL Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis. The 23-year-old Hildeby played two games with the Leafs at the beginning of the season while Joseph Woll was hurt. He looked strong in one appearance – posting a .913 save percentage while winning his first NHL game – but he struggled in the other before being returned to the Marlies.
From Toronto management’s perspective, the organization’s depth between the pipes is (pardon the pun) a net positive.
For instance – if Hildeby wasn’t available or up to snuff, there were other promising options in net for Leafs brass to consider. One was veteran NHLer Matt Murray – although he’s once again hurt – and 23-year-old Russian Artur Akhtyamov, who has been solid in nine AHL appearances this season, posting a 1.84 goals-against average and .929 SP.
The Leafs haven’t had this quality of net talent since the Ed Belfour Era from 2002 to 2006. It’s certainly a letdown to lose Stolarz for a stretch of time, but with star Joseph Woll there to hold down the fort and with Hildeby to play the second night of back-to-back games, Toronto should be able to stay competitive night in and night out.
For too many years, Leafs Land was a sinkhole for goaltenders, including Ilya Samsonov, Petr Mrazek, Jack Campbell, James Reimer, Jonathan Bernier, Jonas Gustavsson, Vesa Toskala, Jean-Sebastien Giguere and more. Even Frederik Andersen, who had a few solid years, lost that spark by the end of his Leafs tenure.
Thanks to a combination of subpar, inconsistent play and terrible performances from the defense corps and forwards in front of them, the Maple Leafs' netminders failed to deliver the results Buds fans wanted to see.
But solid goaltending has become a calling card for the team. And now, with or without Stolarz minding the net, the Leafs have plenty of depth to use as they pursue top spot in the Atlantic Division and a long playoff run next spring.
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