Maple Leafs Changing Their Goalie Strategy: Anthony Stolarz Stealing the Crease from Joseph Woll?

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Chris Gerics
November 5, 2024 (1:15 PM)

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At first, it looked like the Toronto Maple Leafs had a 1A/1B goalies situation with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll but has everything changed in the blink of an eye?

It was a big improvement this summer when Brad Treliving added Anthony Stolarz as he brought in not only an elite backup, but a potential starter to go alongside Joseph Woll.

It was assumed that Stolarz and Woll would share duties but with Woll's start on the injured reserve, Stolarz has taken the job and ran with it. It will be up to Stolarz to help Toronto get their revenge on Boston after another heartbreaking loss last week.

Woll's return has been shaky, having a rough debut followed up by a solid start against the Seattle Kraken. Against St. Louis though was a different story though, after Woll was solid he fell apart as the Blues took the game over. It's a sign that perhaps Toronto needs to go with Stolarz for the time being.

Speaking on the Real Kyper and Bourne Podcast, co-host Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne touched on Anthony Stolarz's emergence as a #1 starter:

Nick Kypreos: "We had the discussion is Stolarz starting in Boston, yes. And Friday for me and possibly Woll Saturday but for me it's crystal clear after the weekend Stolarz is head and shoulders above Joseph Woll and if you want to distance yourself in the Eastern Conference, lean on Stolarz more."

His co-host retorted about Woll's need to have an opportunity to fight adversity:

Justin Bourne: "I disagreed last night, I don't agree now. I feel like Woll deserves a chance to get his feet under him. If you don't let him get his feet under him you're relying on Stolarz and now you have no backup plan. Let him get playing well...Boston is no better than the Blues or the Wild."

Kypreos was very blunt in his response as to why Toronto should keep on with Stolarz:

NK: Stolarz has made the save when he's had to. Woll hasn't."

It's hard to argue that without Stolarz, Toronto would be even remotely close to where they are now. If they had to rely on rookie Dennis HIldeby and Matt Murray for the time being, it could have been a disaster.

Perhaps Brad Treliving knew something we didn't when he signed Stolarz; consulting a crystal ball and telling him his new starter will be hurt again. This season he's come in and recorded a 4-2-2 record with a 2.38 GAA and .919 SV%, starter material if there ever was some.

Stolarz's record would be even better if Toronto had some more production out of their team, and considering that the normally goal-heavy Maple Leafs sit 12th in goals-for with 39; if they had half of their normal offense it would lead to a lot more wins. He can only do so much, and it's up to Toronto's scorers to help build Stolarz a security net in case he lets in a goal or two.

If the Maple Leafs want to make an impact and a serious run to the Stanley Cup, they need to plug the guy who won the dang thing last year into their crease for the time being. It's not Woll's job anymore.