‘I Know That I'm One Of The Best In The World, And I'm Looking Forward To The Opportunity': Why Goaltender Anthony Stolarz Signed with the Maple Leafs
Stolarz signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Leafs on the opening day of NHL free agency Monday.
Ahead of the opening of NHL free agency Monday, it became well-known the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the market to pursue a tandem partner to goaltender Joseph Woll, who the club extended Monday. After Laurent Brossoit signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Leafs pounced on the chance to sign goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Fresh off his new two-year, $5 million contract with the Leafs, Stolarz met with the media over Zoom Wednesday to explain how opportunity was the key factor that sold him on signing in Toronto.
“I'm super excited. I mean, obviously it's a historic organization. I know a few of the guys on the team already, so the transition will be nice and obviously there's an opportunity,” Storlarz told reporters Wednesday. “I felt in Florida I kind of knew my role as a backup, whereas here, Woller and I are going to be competing for starts and as a goalie, that's all you can ask for.”
Stolarz appeared in 27 regular season games in his lone season with the Florida Panthers last year. Though he didn’t see much playing time behind starter Sergei Bobrovsky, settling into a defined backup role, he still had a notable record of 16-7-2, with a 2.03 goals against average and a .925 save percentage – all while becoming a Stanley Cup champion.
Given Woll’s injury history, with shoulder, ankle, and back issues in ‘22, ‘23, and ‘24, more opportunities for Stolarz to play have become a reality. However, at the same time, as the most recent Stanley Cup Champion, he understands the importance of being a good teammate when his goalie partner takes the reins.
“As a goalie, that's kind of what you want. Obviously only one of us can play, and you want to get as many starts as you can,” Stolarz emphasized. “When my name's called, I want to go in there and try to seize the opportunity, but at the same time, too, when I'm not, I pride myself in being a good teammate, and I'm going to support Woller and push him throughout the year.”
Stolarz has played in just 109 NHL games since the 2016-17 season, splitting his NHL career between the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Panthers. Upon the news of the acquisition, one criticism centered around the availability of a Woll/Stolarz tandem. The most games each netminder has played in a single NHL season is Woll, 25, and Stolarz, 28. Though this may be a concern for some, Stolarz doesn’t doubt his capabilities to perform.
“At the end of the day, there's 64 NHL goalies, and there's never a doubt in my ability. I know that I'm one of the best in the world, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity,” said Stolarz.
And he should be confident.
Though a small sample size, his underlying numbers are what's promising for just a $2.5 million cap hit per season. His .925 save percentage was the best in the NHL in 2023-24, he ranked third in goals saved above expected (+15.14) and scoring chances save percentage (83.8%), second in save percentage versus expected (+2.38%), goals saved above expected per game (+0.56), and shots through traffic save percentage (95.7%), and fifth in inner shot slots save percentage (85.2%), according to Meghan Chayka of Stathletes.
Even when looking back on his time in Anaheim for example, whom he spent parts of four seasons with from 2019-2023, he had an impressive record of 21-18-3 in 56 games with a goals-against average of 2.88 and a save percentage of .913. His stats with the Ducks are notable because in each year the club finished:
2019-20: 13th in the West, 6th in the Pacific, 27th in the league
2020-21: 8th in the West, 30th in the league
2021-22: 13th in the West, 7th in the Pacific, 23rd in the league
2022-23: 16th in the West, 8th in the Pacific, 32nd in the league
Stolarz, 30, will undoubtedly serve as a feasible 1b goalie who has experience on his resume, an appreciable option for general manager Brad Treliving, who was looking to find an established netminder in this particular role to play alongside Woll in Toronto. Both parties were sold on opportunity and value, which should make for an appealing relationship. Although inexpensive, the former second-round pick is a competitive option for the Leafs – one that could prove to be a steal if he outplays the value they signed him for.
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