Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube delivered an update on injured goalie Anthony Stolarz on Monday.
The Leafs are on the road Monday, opening a four-game West Coast set against the Colorado Avalanche. During the media availability on Monday, Berube hinted that Stolarz could return at some point before the Olympic break.
Maple Leafs resident guru Jonas Siegel tweeted the following:
Stolarz hasn’t played since Nov. 11.
On the surface, the news is encouraging. Stolarz has been out for two months without any real word beyond his ailment being an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have held the fort quite well.
That’s why Stolarz’s return will more than likely create a logjam in the Toronto crease. But with the Olympics about three weeks away, the club could navigate with all three goalies on the roster.
Still, Berube did not offer a firm timeline. As such, there’s no guarantee when Stolarz will return to the ice. But given the way Hildeby has played, there is no real rush for Stolarz to come back.
The Maple Leafs have the luxury of patience at this point. That is, until one of Woll or Hildeby gets injured for an extended period. But that won’t be the case, hopefully.
Maple Leafs Could Carry Three Goalies
Hildeby’s low cap hit could allow the Maple Leafs to carry three goalies to share the workload. This season has been more than evident that Stolarz cannot handle an increased workload. Similarly, Joseph Woll, as good as he’s been, cannot go prolonged stretches. That situation means there’s a clear need to share the workload.
With the Leafs heading into their strongest push of the season, there might be a case for running with all three goalies.
Plus, Hildeby is just too good to go back to the AHL. That’s why divvying up the starts among all three could make sense. That is, until there’s enough clarity on where Stolarz stands for the remainder of the season.
Stolarz Trade Has Gained Traction Online
One thought that’s emerged online is the possibility of the Maple Leafs trading Anthony Stolarz. The 31-year-old just signed a contract extension earlier this season. So, it might seem a little premature to assume the Leafs could trade Stolarz.
But the impending logjam has given credence to that possibility. With several teams looking for options in the crease, the Maple Leafs could cash in on Stolarz. That situation might be somewhat of a last-ditch situation for Toronto.
The Leafs have been the subject of abundant speculation regarding pieces they would like to add. So, Stolarz could serve as a chip heading into the deadline. That talk is all hearsay at this point. There’s no credible evidence to suggest Toronto might be even remotely interested in moving Stolarz.
The likeliest outcome is the Leafs will roll with their three goalies, hoping at least two will be healthy enough to lead the team down the stretch run heading into the postseason.
Entering Monday’s action, the Maple Leafs are one point out of a playoff spot. A win over the Avalanche would catapult them into a wild card slot.
Maple Leafs HC Delivers Mixed Stolarz Injury Update