When the season began, Anthony Stolarz was poised to be the undisputed starter for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team and goaltender had solidified their commitment to one another with a long-term contract agreement, but on November 11th, like so many times before in his career, Stolarz was struck down by the injury bug.
After starting against the Boston Bruins, Stolarz failed to lead the team out for the second period. He was replaced by Dennis Hildeby and hasn’t been seen in the crease since.
From “Not Serious” to Indefinite Absence
Immediately following that game, head coach Craig Berube informed the media that Stolarz had been removed due to an upper-body injury. At the time, Berube downplayed the severity, explaining that the issue wasn’t serious and the organization did not expect their goaltender to miss significant time. Fast forward almost an entire month, and the narrative has shifted drastically.
Two weeks ago, the team provided a vague update stating the injury was worse than initially feared but failed to elaborate. Today, Berube provided yet another update, which offered little in the way of optimism.
Any clarity on Stolarz? Berube: “There’s actually not right now. He’s still not on the ice, so I’m not sure yet where he is at.” On Woll: “He’s progressing the right way. Like I said, it’s probably going to be this week.” Tanev has scheduled meeting with Dr. on Wednesday. #Leafs
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) December 7, 2025
Leafs Forced to Rely on Rookie Tandem
With Joseph Woll also sidelined, the Leafs are now forced to rely on an entirely rookie tandem to salvage their season. While the immediate on-ice product is a concern, the bigger issue looming over the franchise is simple: What is happening in Toronto?
Why are injuries originally diagnosed as day-to-day spanning nearly a month? Why is this the second time this season that the Leafs’ medical staff appears to have missed a significant diagnosis?
Is the Stolarz Contract Still a Steal?
The pattern is becoming impossible to ignore. From Brandon Carlo, who now reportedly requires surgery, to Stolarz struggling once again to remain healthy, the scrutiny on the medical team is reaching a fever pitch.
Questions will continue to surface until the organization provides a definitive answer. However, as Stolarz remains sidelined, the deal signed before the season is starting to look less like a steal for the Leafs and more like a gamble that hasn’t paid off.