Anthony Stolarz could be at the center of a move that reshapes the Maple Leafs

Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs could completely change the dynamic of their team, and Anthony Stolarz could be used to do it according to a trade proposal floating around.

However, he is working his way back and in doing so would actually give the Maple Leafs a huge strength with three potential starting goalies; a good a problem to have as any if you’re an NHL team.

Anthony Stolarz a potential trade candidate according to Leafs analyst

But there is a way that Stolarz can end up helping the Maple Leafs but not with his play on the ice, but with the ability to sway New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald to part with a premium defenseman.

Stolarz does have 16-team no-trade list, so Toronto’s options could be somewhat limited.

In a perfect world, they’d like to keep the depth they have in net, but they’re not in position to do that and “win now” so hard decisions have to be made.

The Leafs need to find another defenseman, or a quality scorer up front, and since they’re thin on picks and prospects the front office might have to get creative. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Stolarz is an asset, but he has to show he can return to form and stay healthy.

It would certainly be an intriguing trade asset to say the least, and there very well could be a prospective buyer in the New Jersey Devils and shockingly; the money works out too.

According to a proposed package floating around, the Maple Leafs would see a package involving Stolarz, Dakota Joshua and Calle Jarnkrok going to New Jersey for Dougie Hamilton as well as a proposed prospect such as Kevan Benjamin or Chase Cheslock.

Can Toronto afford Dougie Hamilton using Stolarz? Should they?

The Maple Leafs package costs a total of $7.85-million and in addition to Chris Tanev’s LTIR cap relief, the Hamilton contract works.

Sure, asking Toronto to hold onto $9-million for the next couple seasons is a lot to ask, but he’s not in a Morgan Rielly situation; he will be off the books.

Now the question is whether or not they should. From an outsider’s perspective, he’s continually hurt, not that young, and hasn’t shown a consistent enough streak to warrant being that elite #1.

But when he’s on the ice he’s mostly stellar. No goalie is perfect but last year Stolarz was pretty darn close, and there’s hope he can recapture the form he once had.

It’s not a guarantee though, and the Maple Leafs have seen Joseph Woll really hold things down as the #1 meanwhile Dennis Hildeby has started to come into his own and looks worlds different than he did last year in his debut.

Plus, he would be heading home to New Jersey so the chance to play for his hometown team is quite enticing; much like Hamilton’s in Toronto.

That makes Stolarz expendable; and if he can be part of a package that brings Toronto the elite defenseman they need for the playoff push — then it’s certainly worth the price.

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Anthony Stolarz could be at the center of a move that reshapes the Maple Leafs

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