July 2: Murray is back in Toronto on a one-year, $875K deal, the team confirmed. They’ve also made Stolarz’s signing official.
July 1: With a huge need for help between the pipes, Kevin Weekes of ESPN reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a two-year contract with goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirms Stolarz will earn an AAV of $2.5MM. Matt Murray is returning to Toronto for goaltending depth on an undisclosed contract, per TSN’s Darren Dreger.
After signing goalie Joseph Woll to a three-year extension shortly before the start of free agency, the Maple Leafs needed to find a reliable backup option in the net. Putting together quality seasons in four years as backup to John Gibson with the Anaheim Ducks, Stolarz landed with the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers last offseason.
The move to Florida did him well as Stolarz put together a 16-7-2 record in 24 starts behind the best defensive team in the league. Stolarz also finished with a career-high mark in save percentage with .925 as well as goals against average with 2.03. Although Stolarz will not have the same defensive prowess in front of him in Toronto, he represented one of the most valuable backup options on the market.
In more surprising news, the team opted to re-sign Murray even though he has not appeared in an NHL contest since the 2022-23 regular season. Suffering from chronic injuries throughout his tenure in the Maple Leafs organization, Murray will be Toronto’s third-string netminder to start the season.
So, your Cup window is now in the hands of Woll and Stolarz?
OK.
Muffin OEL, Tanev, Stolarz and Domi is pretty decent and this move allows Hildabey to stay in the AHL as the starter 3rd string guy for the year.
I agree with you it doesn’t seem like a cup tandem, the same could be said if Vegas and Colorado the last few seasons and Edmonton this season
Exactly. And look at NYR’s.. haven’t appeared in one cup yet with Igor
Toronto repeatedly gets shaky goaltending, and their response is to… sign more shaky 1b goaltenders? Somewhat baffling.
will hasn’t been shaky just hurt, and Stolarz has been decent but shouldn’t be a 1.
also Samson wasn’t the reason they lost last year.
I get the idea this isn’t a star tandem, but at least the one thing they did do is address a lack of playoff success In their lineup. now they just need an offer since player who scores I. the playoffs
@MoneyBallJustWorks — I think @fightcitymayor might have been referring to Matt Murray, even though he was still with the team, and not an outside signing, like Stolarz. Stolarz could be an under-the-radar #1, but that will depend a lot on the defensive effort in front of him, I believe.
I’ve always liked Stoley the goalie. Can definately share a 50/50 load.
Big fan of Stolarz and Woll will be more than adequate while he develops. Adding 3 dmen will help. Hard to love contracts with such long term but the cap hits are incredible.
Woll is absolutely a starter in this league… he’s consistent, but he can’t stay healthy. Stolarz is insurance, but make no mistake, Toronto is committed to Woll as the 1A goalie, if not this year, then very soon.