Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz ‘not making progress’ on injury, seeing specialist
Concerning news for one of the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ backstops.
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Craig Berube announced that goaltender Anthony Stolarz is going to see another specialist regarding an upper-body injury that has kept him out of action since early November. While Berube pointed out that his injury isn’t concussion-related, he noted that Stolarz’s recovery hasn’t gone according to plan.
“He’s not making the progress that we thought he would make,” Berube said.
Craig Berube says Anthony Stolarz is heading to see another specialist, while confirming the injury is not concussion-related: "He's not making the progress that we thought he would make."
Stolarz suffered the injury in a game back on Nov. 11 against the Boston Bruins. It wasn’t clear what exactly forced the 31-year-old out of action, as he was replaced by Dennis Hildeby after the first period. Stolarz was placed on injured reserve a few days later.
The Leafs have been decent in Stolarz’s absence. With the eventual return of Joseph Woll (albeit for a short time), Toronto went 6-4-4, but has dropped each of its past two games, including a 6-3 thrashing at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers at Scotiabank Arena this past Saturday night. The Leafs have ridden Hildeby for the past four games after Woll went down with a lower-body injury earlier this month.
In 13 starts this season, Stolarz has a record of 6-5-1, with a 3.51 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage.
The health of the Leafs’ goaltending has been an issue over the past couple of years. Even when Woll started to step into his own as a No. 1 guy, injuries plagued him, forcing him to miss Game 7 against the Bruins in 2024. Last season, Stolarz was tabbed as the starter for the postseason, leading the team to a series win against the rival Ottawa Senators. However, he suffered a concussion in Game 1 of the second round against the Florida Panthers, effectively knocking him out for the rest of the postseason.
The Leafs are hoping Stolarz can return to the lineup in the near future and restore the tandem of him and Woll that helped the team win the Atlantic Division last season. Right now, Toronto (14-12-5) enters Monday night seventh in the division, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. They come into Monday night five points back of the Bruins for the last Wild Card spot.