Photo credit: USA Today Sports
According to a recent report, the Edmonton Oilers could have a major trade in the works with the Maple Leafs to acquire one of Toronto’s starting goaltenders.
Furthermore, writer and hockey analyst Jim Mirtle of The Athletic added some validity to the report by commenting on Edmonton’s goalie situation.
“Edmonton is getting desperate enough that they offer up prime assets to pull a more valuable goalie out of a two-goalie tandem team such as Carolina, New Jersey, St. Louis, Toronto, or Washington.»
Of the five teams mentioned by Jim Mirtle, Toronto does seem like a good possibility, given its own goalie situation, where neither Anthony Stolarz, nor Joseph Woll has been able to solidify the starter position, and like Edmonton, have adapted the 1A/1B system in goal.
It makes sense that Stan Bowman could cut a deal with the Leafs, except it would come at the cost of a 1st-round draft pick, and a top-prospect like Ike Howard or Mathew Savoie. Yet, if the trade were a factor in winning a Stanley Cup for the Oilers, the price would be considered a bargain.
Can one the Leafs’ goalies back-stop Edmonton to a Stanley Cup?
Joseph Woll is 27-years old, and in the prime of his development. In his first full-season with Toronto last year, he posted a 27-14-1 record in 42 games, and a 2.73 GAA and .909 SV%.
In last year’s playoffs, Woll went 6-6-0, with a 2.73 GAA and .906 SV%, consistent with his regular season stats. The Leafs ultimately lost to the Florida Panthers after being ahead 3-1 in the 2nd-round of last year’s playoffs. Woll is in year-1 of a 3-year deal, with a cap hit of $3.7M.
Anthony Stolarz has won a Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2023-24, backing up Sergei Bobrovsky. The 31-year old is in year 2 of a 2-year contract with the Leafs, at a cap hit of $2.5M.
In 2024-25, Anthony posted a spectacular record of 21-8-3, and a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV%. In the playoffs he was 4-0, and 2.19GAA and .901 SV%. He can clearly get it done when it matters, as he showed against his old team Florida.
Which of the two Leafs’ goalies GM Brad Treliving would entertain trading is not clear, given either players’ solid play last season. Both work well for Edmonton salary-wise and both have the ability to be the starter.
Whether Stan Bowman is desperate enough to pull the trigger on the deal, that is another matter altogether.
Previously on Oilers Daily