The Toronto Maple Leafs and Anthony Stolarz have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $15 million extension with an annual average value (AAV) of $3.75 million, per NHL insider Kevin Weekes and The Athletic’s Chris Johnston. According to Weekes, the deal will include a large signing bonus.
The agreement will keep Stolarz signed in Toronto through the 2029-30 season. With Joseph Woll locked up until 2028, Toronto’s situation between the pipes is in good hands for years to come. Stolarz’s annual salary of $3.75 million will come in just above Woll’s $3.67 million, meaning the team is spending just under $7.5 million total on their crease starting next year.
Considering how Stolarz has played in Toronto so far, keeping his salary under $4 million a year is tidy work for Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, especially at a time when multiple teams across the league have been forced to offer large contracts to keep their franchise goaltender in town. When his contract kicks in next season, he’ll still be outside the top 25 in highest annual goalie salaries across the league. If he keeps playing how he did last year, it’s a contract that will quickly show its value.
Stolarz’s contract was one of the hottest conversation topics through the preseason. The 31-year-old was adamant that he didn’t want to negotiate in-season, and with Woll’s indefinite absence there was plenty reason for the Leafs to be interested in getting this one done. While it seemed to be a question of the dollar amount, it looks like it all worked out for both sides, with a fair price and Stolarz secured for four years.
The American netminder joined the Maple Leafs last season from the Cup-winning Florida Panthers, signing a two-year, $5 million contract. Despite dealing with injury, he played a career-high 34 games last season, finishing with an impressive 21-8-3 record, a 2.14 GAA, .926 SV%, and four shutouts. His strong stats in the Maple Leafs crease landed him among the league goaltending leaders and earned him the starting spot for Toronto in the playoffs. Unfortunately, after helping the Maple Leafs to the second round, he was injured in Game 1 against his former Panthers team, leaving some unfinished business to attend to this season.
With contract business out of the way, Stolarz can put all his focus on his game as the regular season fast approaches. Set to carry the lion’s share of starts through at least the beginning of the season, he’ll need to be locked in to get the Maple Leafs off and running.
