Heading into the back half of a back-to-back set against Buffalo, the Maple Leafs have added some extra goalie depth. The team announced (Twitter link) that goaltender Dennis Hildeby has been recalled from AHL Toronto.
With Joseph Woll away from the team to start the season, it looked as if the 24-year-old would serve as the backup for Anthony Stolarz. However, when they claimed Cayden Primeau off waivers at the end of training camp, that was the end of that idea as instead, Hildeby was sent down to the Marlies while Primeau served as the backup.
Hildeby hasn’t received much playing time with the Marlies either, getting into just two games where he has allowed just two goals on 53 shots. Toronto has played just four AHL games in the early going with Hildeby splitting time with prospect Vyacheslav Peksa.
There isn’t a notable injury situation between the pipes for the Maple Leafs as instead, the plan is to simply give Stolarz a rest day after a heavy workload to start the season in Woll’s absence. Toronto doesn’t have an open roster spot so it appears they’re using a CBA exception that allows them to bring up an extra goalie as a 24th player. It’s something that can only be used twice in a season and for a maximum of 48 hours each time so Hildeby’s time with the big club will be short-lived as he’ll likely be sent back down following the game or sometime on Sunday.
Weird move by the Leafs. Stolarz is too overworked after 7 games to even sit on the bench and backup Primeau? Seems like a waste of a move.