Toronto Maple Leafs News

Stolarz is set to become a restricted free agent this summer but provides the Oilers with over $3.4M AAV in cap savings this year by replacing Talbot. The 25-year-old netminder is a former second-round pick but has had two knee surgeries in the last two seasons and has only played in 21 professional hockey games over that stretch as a result. This season, Stolarz is 4-3-3 with a 3.33 GAA and .902 SV% and will basically be trying out for Mikko Koskinen’s backup job for next season during the final 25 games of the season.

Lettieri, 24, has not recorded a point in 18 games with the Rangers this season, but has 27 points (12G / 15A) in 29 AHL games.

Kampf is expected to miss at least 2-3 more weeks, so he was moved to IR to open up a roster spot. Expect Dylan Sikura to remain with the Blackhawks while Kampf is out.

Stolarz stopped 37 of 39 shots in the Flyers shootout loss to the Kings last Thursday. Since returning from injury, Stolarz has stopped 75 of the 77 shots (.974 SV%) that he has faced and tonight he will make his first of what could be two starts this week. The 25-year-old netminder has gone 3-2-1 with a 3.25 GAA, .907 SV% and one shutout in eight road appearances this year.

Dahlstrom has been in the lineup for the last three games but will be replaced by Gustav Forsling on Thursday.

Kampf was forced to leave Tuesday’s game in Edmonton with a foot injury and will miss at least three weeks. Brendan Perlini figures to draw back into the lineup to replace Kampf on Thursday.

Stolarz stopped all 38 shots that he faced in the Flyers shutout win over the Rangers on January 29th. Stolarz has turned in a couple of outstanding performances this season but has mixed them in with some duds. It’s hard to know what to expect from the 25-year-old but the Flyers are red-hot right now and have a terrific matchup vs. the Kings, so you should at least consider spot-starting him.

Mermis was called-up prior to Tuesday’s game because the status of Alex Goligoski was uncertain. Goligoski ended up playing so Mermis returns to the AHL.

Matthews was set to become a restricted free-agent this summer but signed through 2023-24 with an $11.634M cap-hit. Matthews has had a strong season, scoring 23 goals on 121 shots (19.0 SH%) with 23 assists (46 points) in 38 games. Matthews has broken through as one of the best goal-scorers in the league but continues to have a difficult time staying healthy—missing 20 games last season and 14 so far this year.

Ekman-Larsson missed the last three games before the break with a lower-body injury but will be a game-time decision in San Jose. Ekman-Larsson would replace Jakob Chychrun (lower-body) in the lineup if he plays.

Toronto needed to bolster their blueline and did so by adding Muzzin, who has spent the first seven seasons of his career in Los Angeles. The Maple Leafs really needed a right-handed defenseman but Muzzin was a much cheaper alternative and goes to Toronto with one more season on his contract that carries a $4.0M AAV cap-hit. Muzzin, who is 6-foot-3, 213 lbs., who can produce solid offensive numbers and play physically. He projects to play on the top-pair with Morgan Rielly, which will allow Ron Hainsey to play significantly less taxing minutes.

Stolarz is expected to make his first NHL appearances since December 15th after Carter Hart started on Monday. The 25-year-old has gone 2-3-2 with a 3.90 GAA and .880 SV% in nine NHL appearances this season. During his time in the minors, Stolarz is 2-0-0 while allowing 16 goals on 161 shots (.901 SV%) in five games.

Ekman-Larsson was forced to leave Tuesday’s game in Ottawa and will not be available for Wednesday’s game in Montreal. Ekman-Larsson will return to Arizona to undergo an MRI and the extent of the injury will be known then. Look for Ilya Lybushkin to draw into the Coyotes lineup on Wednesday.

Dahlstrom has performed pretty well since being called-up, picking up six assists in 18 games. Dahlstrom will be replaced Henri Jokiharju on Tuesday.

Stolarz went 2-3-2 with a 3.90 GAA and .880 SV% in nine games with the Flyers this season. With Carter Hart playing well, Stolarz heads back to the Phantoms for now—he is 2-0-0 with a 3.34 GAA and .889 SV% in the AHL this year.