Brad Treliving Announces Major Setback for Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz
It was a truly unfortunate turn of events for the Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz as it was announced he would be out for several weeks with a lower-body injury.
Anthony Stolarz left last Thursday's game against the Anaheim Ducks with what looked like a lower-body injury, and worries started to mount. With no comments or updates, fans waited as they remained optimistic that it was nothing serious.
Unfortunately for Leafs fans, the updated news on Stolarz isn't good, and GM Brad Treliving explained the severity while speaking to media on Tuesday.
Anthony Stolarz's Absence Might Not Hurt As Much
Luckily for the Maple Leafs and Stolarz there is no structural damage according to MRI's and having a "pebble like" piece of loose cartilage or bone floating around.
The problem faced now is that Stolarz will need to undergo a procedure to get rid of it, and be out of action for the next 4-6 weeks. While it's a great sign that there isn't anything serious when it comes to damage, it's a bad sign for the Leafs.
While the team can rely on Joseph Woll to hold down the fort, it's tough with how inconsistent Dennis Hildeby has been, and with Matt Murray still dealing with an injury, they can't call up a veteran to help them out.
Stolarz was in contention for the Vezina Trophy this season with a 9-5-2 record, 2.15 GAA and .927 SV%, some of the league's best numbers, and was a critical reason for Toronto's success so far this season.
It now lies in Woll's hands, a sign that he needs to prove himself now as the undisputed #1 at least for a few weeks. He is 8-3-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .921 SV%, merely a few points behind Stolarz.
It's a rough bit of news for a Toronto team who is facing a very busy December schedule and have to navigate the next few weeks against strong teams like Dallas, Winnipeg, and Buffalo; who Toronto did end up beating on Sunday but had to really fight for their chance to get back in the game.
For now, the news about Stolarz is upsetting for Maple Leafs fans however all hope is not lost. If Woll can hold things down in Stolarz's absence, it will make things easier for everyone. Toronto can focus on winning, and Stolarz can focus on getting back to 100%.
