Maple Leafs provide Anthony Stolarz opportunity he's waited his entire career for (2024)

Anthony Stolarz was sitting calmly in the Anaheim Ducks video room one afternoon in 2021, throwing around ideas for designs of his new goalie mask with Ducks goalie coach Sudarshan Maharaj. As is often the case with Stolarz, he listened a little more than he spoke.

Stolarz was asked about his inspiration for playing goalie.

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And as he contemplated his answer, Stolarz’s mind drifted far from goalie masks, beyond the walls of that video room and back to the state of New Jersey.

That’s where John and Karol Stolarz, his blue-collar parents, reside. They might not have sent him to the most exclusive skills camps, but their support throughout his entire junior and a winding NHL career of short-term, two-way contracts on near-league minimum money has been unrelenting. It’s his parents’ ability to grind through careers – John worked as a shipping clerk in a chemical plant – that has always inspired Anthony.

Stolarz let his inspiration, and a dream he’d been carrying with him through an at times trying NHL life, out almost mid-sentence with Maharaj.

“He told me he just wanted just one good contract so he could buy his parents a house,” Maharaj said. “That’s been his dream. That’s all he wanted. And that sums up what kind of person he is.”

After parts of seven NHL seasons split between four teams, seven stints in the AHL and a few games in the ECHL just to test his mettle that much more, the 30-year-old Stolarz may finally now be able to realize his dream.

Just over a week after winning a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, the 6-foot-6 goalie inked a two-year, $5-million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. It is Stolarz’s largest NHL contract. It’s also an opportunity to likely play more games than he ever has in an NHL season as part of a tandem with Joseph Woll.

And, even more likely, it allows Stolarz to finally get his parents a new home. That’s what he’s been grinding through his career for.

“I never take things for granted,” Stolarz said of his career. “It’s obviously a privilege to play in this league. I smile every time I’m on the ice.”

Ahead of signing in Toronto, the story of Stolarz’s career has been his availability. His .914 career NHL save percentage is more than respectable.

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But his game totals? Not so much.

Stolarz has played just 109 games in his NHL career, which, if anything, suggests more of a meandering lifelong backup than someone ready to step into a tandem role in a continually trying market for goalies. Those who have worked with Stolarz think he could be a bonafide NHL starter should the opportunity come, and, most notably, should he remain injury-free. That’s because injuries hampered his early career and slowed his ability to develop into a true starting goalie.

GO DEEPERThe Maple Leafs are gambling on Joseph Woll's upside

After being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Stolarz suffered an MCL tear and ensuring surgery during his first NHL season in 2016-17.

A second surgery on a separate injury to repair a torn meniscus followed that year.

Not only did the injuries and surgeries dampen a promising NHL start (a .928 save percentage through his first seven games), it meant Stolarz played just four professional games in 2017-18. By this point, the Flyers had pushed their chips in on Carter Hart as their starting goalie of the present and future. The likelihood of Stolarz getting his professional development back on track with limited starts was low.

A brief stop in Edmonton after a midseason trade in 2018-19 was fruitless.

But Maharaj had scouted Stolarz throughout previous seasons and saw something in him: A unicorn of a goalie who towered over his peers but simply hadn’t been given the runway to better understand how to utilize his frame.

Stolarz had the tools.And when the Ducks signed him as a free agent in 2019, hesimply lacked an instruction manual.

Maharaj remembers flying to New Jersey to watch Stolarz continue athletic therapy and take part in offseason workouts. He saw a goalie whose injuries hadn’t truly healed the way Stolarz had hoped. Given the nature of the injuries to his leg and knee, his balance and movement weren’t where they could, or needed, to be. Maharaj had Stolarz come to Anaheim in the offseason to begin working with the Ducks sports science staff so he could equalize his leg strength and mobility.

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“It gave him an opportunity to hit the reset button,” Maharaj said.

While John Gibson and Ryan Miller owned the Ducks net in 2019-20, Stolarz’s focus through a season with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls was on learning how to utilize his new health in the best way possible. He had to learn how to make use of his unique physique in goal.

“Because he missed some time, he hadn’t had the opportunity to develop his technique that big goalies have to develop,” Maharaj said.

Even now at 26 with limited NHL games under his belt, Stolarz did not want to rush the process. He listened, and without any ego, showed a work ethic that multiple coaches who spoke to The Athletic raved about.

His 39 AHL games were the most he’d played in a season after his injuries. And through it, Stolarz’s improvements suggested he had learned to play bigger than ever, both figuratively and literally.

“Big goalies have to learn to play closed. As a result of his injuries, he didn’t get that opportunity to develop those very finite skills. And now he has developed that and he has some more playing time under him. You’ll see a lot less in the way of holes when he’s playing, and less stretching and reaching in the way when he was younger,” Maharaj said.

Those AHL games in 2019-20 were essentially his last in the minor leagues.

He looked like a more than capable NHL goalie the next two seasons in Anaheim, but John Gibson’s monster eight-year contract meant starts were again limited. The same went for last season in Florida behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Though in fairness to Stolarz, that he rocked a .935 save percentage through the final three months of the regular season might have put him in contention for playoff starts on many other teams.

In Toronto, he’ll now have the chance to get what he’s patiently waited for: The most prominent role of his career.

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Sure, there will be questions following Stolarz about his lack of NHL games as his tenure with the Leafs begins. Asking questions of goalies, after all, has become a second language for many people in Toronto going back through Ilya Samsonov, Jack Campbell and Frederik Andersen.

Yet he brings a blend of experience, maturity, size, skill and resilience to Toronto. That could all make him a tailor-made true tandem goalie with the young Woll.

Stolarz has seen first-hand how fleeting success can be in the NHL. That kind of mentorship role should help Woll, who – with a new contract extension into 2028 – remains the goalie of the future for the Leafs.

“Obviously only one of us can play, and you want to get as many starts as you can. When my name’s called, I want to go in there and try to seize the opportunity,” Stolarz said. “But at the same time too, when I’m not, I pride myself in being a good teammate, and I’m going to support (Woll) and push him throughout the year.”

His size and unique shot-stopping ability with his frame could end up seeing the Leafs looking better in goal compared to when they had the inspiring but still unpredictable Samsonov in net over the last two seasons.

And of course, the resilience baked into Stolarz after working through injuries could manifest in a battle-ready approach on the ice.

“He’s had to deal with adversity his whole career. That has forged more of a mental capacity than most guys,” Maharaj said.

That should help him in Toronto, where his career could change completely.

But even if it does, Stolarz certainly won’t forget to return to that new home in New Jersey for his parents. It’s the new Stanley Cup champion’s plan, after all, to spend his day with the trophy in New Jersey and “share it with the people who helped get me here.”

(Top photo of Anthony Stolarz and Auston Matthews: Sam Navarro / USA Today)

Maple Leafs provide Anthony Stolarz opportunity he's waited his entire career for (2)Maple Leafs provide Anthony Stolarz opportunity he's waited his entire career for (3)

Joshua Kloke is a staff writer who has covered the Maple Leafs and Canadian soccer for The Athletic since 2016. Previously, he was a freelance writer for various publications, including Sports Illustrated. Follow Joshua on Twitter @joshuakloke

Maple Leafs provide Anthony Stolarz opportunity he's waited his entire career for (2024)

FAQs

Maple Leafs provide Anthony Stolarz opportunity he's waited his entire career for? ›

It is Stolarz's largest NHL contract. It's also an opportunity to likely play more games than he ever has in an NHL season as part of a tandem with Joseph Woll. And, even more likely, it allows Stolarz to finally get his parents a new home. That's what he's been grinding through his career for.

What are some interesting facts about the Toronto Maple Leafs? ›

The Maple Leafs have one of hockey's most-storied pasts, having won the Stanley Cup 13 times. The Maple Leafs were one of the NHL's founding teams in 1917 and were first known as the Toronto Arenas before taking on the name St. Patricks in 1919.

Who has the most career goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs? ›

Mats Sundin has collected the most career goals for the Maple Leafs, with 420 scored.

What is the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs? ›

The club was founded in 1917, operating simply as Toronto and known then as the Toronto Arenas. Under new ownership, the team was renamed the Toronto St. Patricks in 1919. In 1927, the franchise was purchased by Conn Smythe and renamed the Maple Leafs.

What year did the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup? ›

1967: Toronto Maple Leafs win Stanley Cup.

What are three facts about maple leaves? ›

They are good shade trees because their leaves form a thick dome. In autumn the leaves turn spectacular colors, such as yellow, pink, orange, scarlet, and deep purple. There are about 200 different species, or kinds, of maple. They grow throughout much of North America, Europe, and northeastern Asia.

Why is the maple leaf so famous? ›

While this remarkable tree made a distinct impression on early settlers, it wasn't until the 19th century that the maple leaf itself emerged as a symbol of national identity. From that time onwards, the leaf appeared more and more frequently, becoming the well-loved symbol of Canada it is today.

Who is the longest playing leaf? ›

Rielly was a teenager when he became a Leaf. He's 29 now, the longest-serving Leaf – by a lot. He's played nearly 200 regular-season games more than the next closest team member (William Nylander).

Who is the best player on the Leafs? ›

Auston Matthews

Why did Leafs goal not count? ›

This Toronto Maple Leafs goal is disallowed after review. The ruling is there was a kicking motion and therefore not a goal.

What is the oldest NHL team? ›

Recent News. Montreal Canadiens, Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The oldest continually operating team in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Canadiens have won more Stanley Cup titles than any other team (24) and are the most successful franchise in league history.

Who owns Maple Leafs? ›

The Maple Leafs are a member club of the league's Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team is one of the "Original Six" league members. They are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. and are represented by Chairman Larry Tanenbaum.

Why is Toronto Maple Leafs spelled Leafs? ›

The team's name has been spelled as "Maple Leafs" since the franchise changed its name in 1927. The decision to use "Leafs" instead of "Leaves" was made intentionally by team owner Conn Smythe. Smythe chose the name "Maple Leafs" in honor of the Maple Leaf Regiment, a Canadian military unit that served in World War I.

Who did Leafs beat in 1967? ›

Take a step back in time to watch footage from the legendary 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs, who beat the Montreal Canadiens in six games to win the Stanley Cup.

Who won the most Stanley Cups? ›

The Montreal Canadiens have had the most Stanley Cup success, notching 24 titles throughout franchise history.

Do the Leafs retired numbers? ›

The first team to retire a number was the Toronto Maple Leafs, which retired Ace Bailey's number 6 on February 14, 1934, prior to an All-Star game organized in his honour. The NHL currently has 182 retired numbers, 10 former retirements and 24 honoured numbers.

Why are the Leafs called the Leafs? ›

The Maple Leafs say that the name was chosen in honour of the Maple Leaf Regiment from World War I. Another story says that Smythe named the team after a team he'd once scouted, called the East Toronto Maple Leafs. Smythe's name was initially kept in the background, even though he was the largest shareholder.

Who is the most famous Toronto Maple Leaf player? ›

Dave Keon tops the list as the best Toronto Maple Leafs player of all time. Mats Sundin is the franchise leader in goals (420) and points (987). Tim Horton is the team's career leader in consecutive games played (486).

Who is the oldest player on the Leafs? ›

A number of players are still playing in their late 30s, but one has reached the 40-year milestone — Mark Giordano of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This will be the defenseman's 18th NHL season.

Who is the biggest Toronto Maple Leafs fan? ›

Article content. Alberta's own Kurtis Stevenson, otherwise known as Kurtis from Alberta, might be the biggest Toronto Maple Leafs fan the team has ever had. At least according to his online reputation.

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