Craig Berube Subtly Makes Decision on Maple Leafs' Starting Goalie for Season Opener Against Canadiens

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Chris Gerics
October 8, 2024 (2:53 PM)

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With the regular season kicking off for the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, head coach Craig Berube has been uncharacteristically quiet over who his starter is going to be.

It's a little over 24 hours before the Toronto Maple Leafs open up their season against the Montreal Canadiens, and with many questions and stories heading into the game, one big question mark has seemingly arisen out of nowhere. It seems the Maple Leafs may have a bit of crucial decision-making in the next 24 hours as it's still unknown who is going to be starting for the team in goal.

Head coach Craig Berube is holding his cards close to his chest on this decision, and when questioned by media on Tuesday about who is going to be the starter on opening night, Berube was uncharacteristically reserved regarding his netminder situation:

So who is going to make the start for Craig Berube? Let's look at his options:

The Maple Leafs Assumed #1 Starter of the Future: Is Joseph Woll's Position Secure?

The Maple Leafs assumed #1 starter of the future has suddenly had his spot taken from being set in stone to wait and see. He only played one and a half preseason games; the first and last, and it never felt like he was the starter or gaining enough reps to make sure he was season-ready. For some training camp doesn't necessarily have to be mandatory but for a first-year starter, Woll needed to have a little bit more playing time although he's looked solid in his preseason games. His emergence last season in the playoffs to keep Toronto alive in their series with Boston led many to jump on him as the future star goaltender of the team. It could be a battle of potential vs. prove it and Woll hasn't had enough experience to justify being immediately #1.

But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be. The best way to see if Woll can handle the pressure is to throw him into the fire. He's shown incredible poise in crucial situations, never felt lost on the ice against a tenacious Bruins team, and still has so much to learn as each game passes. The Maple Leafs can afford to have Woll earn his stripes as a starter, although luckily for him he won't be alone if things start to get tough. It also helps that his confidence is through the roof, excited to play in the Maple Leafs season opener, so he is betting on himself that he can be the one Craig Berube can trust.

6'6, 243 Pounds of Absolute Giant: Anthony Stolarz Quietly Becoming One of the NHL's Elite Backup Goaltenders

6'6, 243 pounds of absolute giant, Anthony Stolarz has quietly made himself one of the elite backups in the NHL. Coming off last year winning a Stanley Cup, and backstopping Florida in crucial games, having a 16-7-2 record with a 2.03 GAA and .925 SV%; incredible numbers for a backup goaltender especially when you have perennial Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky shouldering the load. For his career he is 43-31-9 with 2.69 GAA and .915 SV% with time spent in Anaheim, Philadelphia, Edmonton, and Florida; playing on some rough teams in Anaheim and Philly but still putting up very good stats.

Stolarz, compared to Woll has over triple the amount of games played, and while giving Woll the oportunity to succeed, it's do or die for the Maple Leafs and Stolarz will be looking to make his name in the league as more than a backup. He's a steady hand in net, brings a massive intimidation factor with his size, and being NHL-ready plays very well into his hands. If Woll gets off to a shaky start or doesn't look completely comfortable between the pipes, look for Craig Berube to immediately make Stolarz the #1 starter for Toronto.

So what does Craig Berube do?

For Craig Berube, he's got two great options depending on how he wants to do things. Known for experimenting and giving rookies more opportunities to prove themselves, much like he afforded Easton Cowan several chances this training camp, Berube could look to Woll with confidence and say "This is your team, run with it" knowing he has a motivated goaltender excited not only to play but to lead the team this season.

But on the flip side, he has a proven goaltender with three times the amount of games than his other goaltender and one with an intimidation factor and veteran intelligence that can handle the tough situations simply because he's dealt with them before. Anthony Stolarz was signed as a backup for Joseph Woll but it would be exciting to watch Stolarz, a goalie who never truly got a chance to shine amongst his peers, take Toronto all the way to the Stanley Cup.

So who should Craig Berube start in the season opener? It's six in one hand, half a dozen in the other. No matter who he chooses, there's only one goal he has in mind:

Win the game.