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The Maple Leafs reportedly have received permission from the Florida Panthers to talk to Sunny Mehta about the open GM position.
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Published Apr 09, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read
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Sunny Mehta of the Florida Panthers celebrates after winning the Stanley Cup in 2024. Getty ImagesArticle content
How the Maple Leafs go about dealing with their goaltending will come under heavy scrutiny during the off-season.
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Revamping the defence corps — if not acquiring a legitimate top-pair defenceman — and taking a long, hard look at what forwards come after captain Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and John Tavares will be at the top of the list of the incoming general manager.
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That’s the reasonable expectation.
The latest injury suffered by goaltender Anthony Stolarz will add to the summertime intrigue and a decision will have to be made by the new person in charge whether the club can go forward with the 32-year-old vet as part of the goaltending group.
Speaking of a new GM, Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN’s Early Trading on Thursday that the Leafs have received permission from the Florida Panthers to talk to the Panthers’ assistant GM, head of analytics, Sunny Mehta about the open position.
The New Jersey Devils, who parted ways with GM Tom Fitzgerald this week, also like Mehta and received permission to speak to him as well.
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Mehta’s extensive background in analytics, culminating in helping the Panthers win the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025, fits the bill for what MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley seeks in a new GM.
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MLSE, in a statement on Thursday, confirmed the hiring of Neil Glasberg, president of the Coaches Agency, to assist in a search for the Leafs’ head of hockey operations, seemingly giving credence to the idea that two hires, including a GM, will be made.
“The organization’s top priority is to respect the integrity of the process, and we will not be providing updates or confirmations on potential candidates during the process,” the statement said. “We’re pleased by the progress to date and will provide a formal update once the search is complete.”
If the Leafs decide they want Mehta, moving quickly on hiring him would be prudent. That goes for any potential candidate for whatever the job titles will be.
On the coaching side, Peter DeBoer will make his debut behind the bench of the New York Islanders against the Leafs on Thursday night, four days after he was hired after the dismissal of Patrick Roy.
What is Craig Berube’s status for future?
A Leafs decision has to be made on Craig Berube. If the club really does wait until a new GM is in place before Berube’s future is decided, it could lose out on candidates as it did, perhaps, with DeBoer.
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But back to Stolarz: It has become common to say that he plays well — when he has been healthy. It’s true, for the most part.
His save percentage in the two seasons combined prior to 2025-26 was .926, the highest among National Hockey League goalies who played in at least 60 games in that span. Stolarz played in 61.
This season, that dipped to .893 in 26 games and, from the way Stolarz reacted when he suffered a left leg injury against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, it would be foolish to think he’ll play again in what remains of the Leafs season — no matter what imaging of the injury reveals.
Injuries have become part of who Stolarz is. He missed nearly two months last season with a knee issue and an upper-body injury kept him out for two months this season. Before he was hurt on Nov. 11 against the Boston Bruins, Stolarz had a tough go, failing to provide consistently sharp netminding.
The issue going forward and why Stolarz’s future is going to be under the spotlight, is the four-year contract extension that kicks in next season.
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On paper, the contract sports a favourable annual average value of $3.75 million US. There won’t be much value in it if Stolarz, whose career-high for games played in one season is 34, continues to spend significant chunks of time on the sideline nursing his latest injury.
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Maple Leafs prospect power rankings: Is inconsistent Dennis Hildeby’s top spot in jeopardy?
With Joseph Woll under contract for the next two seasons with an AAV of $3.67 million and the probable emergence of Dennis Hildeby as a full-time NHL goalie, the Leafs shouldn’t have issues in net.
Keep in mind, too, that Artur Akhtyamov — who was in line to make his first NHL start on Thursday against the Islanders after making his NHL debut in a game against Edmonton in December — signed a three-year extension in March that is one-way in the final two seasons. As expected, Akhtyamov was recalled from the Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis, along with forwards Luke Haymes and Ryan Tverberg and defenceman William Villeneuve. Forward Bo Groulx was returned to the Marlies.
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Would there be a trade market for Anthony Stolarz?
How much of a market would there be trade-wise for Stolarz this summer, considering his injury woes? If the Leafs can’t rely on him to stay healthy, to what degree would another NHL team want to take a chance on him?
Among the goalies who will hit unrestricted free agency in July are Sergei Bobrovsky, Frederik Andersen, Stuart Skinner and Cam Talbot.
Would a team rather trade for Stolarz than go the free-agency route?
With Stolarz, that’s something the new Leafs hockey boss — whether it’s Mehta or someone else — will have to explore.
X: @koshtorontosun
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