Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has found his way into a few trade conversations, according to Kevin Weekes of ESPN. The likelihood of him being on the move seems reasonably low with a limited goalie market and several higher-clout names out there, namely Jordan Binnington and Sergei Bobrovsky, as Weekes reaffirms, but it’s still a new development to see Stolarz’s name mentioned as available.
It’s understandable, given the season Stolarz has had. The 32-year-old has appeared in just 20 games for Toronto with a .891 save percentage and a 7-8-3 record. Behind the Leafs’ average defense, that translates to -8.8 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. On a per 60 basis, his -0.486 mark is fifth-worst in the league (min. 18 games). It’s a stunning reversal after leading the league in save percentage in back-to-back seasons in backup/tandem deployment with the Leafs and Panthers.
That two-year sample between 2023-25, in which Stolarz posted a .926 SV% and 2.10 GAA in 61 starts with a 37-15-5 record, would make Stolarz an intriguing 1B option for a team that needs one. His contract, a four-year, $15MM extension with a modified no-trade clause that kicks in next season, won’t be particularly desirable with his injury history, though.
While his numbers haven’t been great, the lack of playing time this year has mostly stemmed from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for over two months and nearly half of Toronto’s schedule. It’s the third time in four seasons that he’s been available for at least a quarter of his team’s games. No matter how well he plays, he can’t be relied upon as a starting or 1A option year-to-year with that kind of propensity for injuries.
Hello Carolina. Frederik plus a 2nd and a 3-5 prospect should do it. Leafs can flip Frederik plus half salary retained to a contender for a 5th or so. Maybe Anaheim?
Flip Frederick to who? lol teams third goalies are better than him at this point.
@alca. Stolarz was injured at the beginning of the season. Don’t look at just stats. Last two games he played since being back he’s been very good. Frederik is a veteran and would be a good backup on a playoff team. Plus he’s an expiring contract.
Freddy has a 20 team No Trade List.
What would motivate him to move? I doubt a fond reunion with the Leafs would do it.
what are you on. no one is taking on Freddie.
plus what is the point of retaining salary for a 5th? Leafs could use cap space to get a 3rd in a 3 way deal
so Freddie would be a good backup on a playoff team… except Carolina who (checks standings)
yep playoff team.
this is the dumbest trade proposal I’ve seen this deadline
@money. And you think Freddy is better than stolarz!? What are YOU on? Go back to bed kid. Let the grownups talk. You clearly don’t know alot about hockey and how teams are built.
@mike like I said he’d be flipped to a playoff team that could use him as a backup.
@money. Further Freddy is a UFA since you didn’t know. Leafs would retain salary for the last 20 games. Oooooooohhhh. They need the cap space this season
for what exactly!? Donkey.
@mtog back to bed kid? if you think I’m a kid you may want to check I to the old folks home.
and I never said Freddie was better than stolarz. I think Carolina could upgrade but doubt they see stolarz as a significant upgrade, and they only make a deal for him if they think Petr won’t be available next season.
and I said they could use the cap space to facilitate a better trade than waste it on a 5th rounder like your proposal.
@money. If you’re not a kid then stop acting like one. And Kotch is injured and Bussi is a career minor leaguer having a phenomenal season but do you want him and Fred as your playoff goalies? Stolarz is way cheaper than Binnington or Bob and probably a bit better right now.
No, Bob for 1/2 salary for Freddie and Charles-Alexis Legault or Felix Unger Sörum. That is the long and the short of it! 😉
Leaf’s to trade Kniess, McMann and the first from AV’s for Robert thomas
@hasam. No thanks.