It was a tough pill to swallow for Leafs Nation today, as news broke that goaltender Anthony Stolarz will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. While the surgery was to remove a loose body and revealed no structural damage, it’s still a significant blow to a Leafs team that has been relying heavily on Stolarz’s strong play.
General Manager Brad Treliving addressed the media, stating, “It’s not a repair or anything of that nature, but they are going to remove that loose body, it looks like a little pebble… I would anticipate we are looking in the 4-6 week range, hopefully, sooner rather than later.”
Stolarz has been a revelation for the Leafs this season. In 17 games, he boasts a stellar 2.15 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. He’s provided solid goaltending and much-needed stability behind Ilya Samsonov.
Will the Toronto Maple Leafs Make a Trade?
This injury raises some serious questions about the Leafs’ goaltending depth. With Stolarz out, the Leafs are left with Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby. While Woll has been solid this year, he has struggled with staying healthy in the past. Woll has shown promise but is still relatively unproven at the NHL level.
The Leafs’ front office may now be forced to explore the trade market for a veteran goaltender. With the Christmas trade freeze approaching, competition for available netminders will be fierce.
Some potential trade targets could include Dan Vladar and John Gibson. However, acquiring a quality goaltender will likely come at a steep price. Treliving will need to carefully weigh his options and decide if making a trade is the right move for the team.
This is a critical juncture in the Leafs’ season. They are currently battling for the top position in a tight Atlantic Division. The loss of Stolarz could be a major setback, but it also presents an opportunity for someone like Woll to step up and prove himself.
It’s a situation that will undoubtedly have Leafs fans on the edge of their seats for the next few weeks.
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