Of all the questions swirling around the Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the 2025-26 season, the one with the most confident answer might just be the one between the pipes. After a franchise-altering offseason that saw the departure of team president Brendan Shanahan and the blockbuster trade of Mitch Marner, a new era of “calmness” is expected to settle over the dressing room. And nowhere is that sense of stability more apparent than in the team’s goaltending.
While other areas of the roster have been reshaped, the crease remains a bastion of strength. The Leafs are returning the tandem that backstopped them to an Atlantic Division title, a duo that proved to be one of the league’s most effective. For a team and a fanbase perennially searching for an anchor in net, the upcoming season offers a rare feeling of security. Let’s break down the state of the blue paint for the Blue and White.
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The Two-Headed Monster: Stolarz and Woll
Last season, the Maple Leafs didn’t just have a starting goaltender; they had a formidable partnership. The tandem of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll was nothing short of stellar, providing the consistent, high-level goaltending that has often eluded this franchise. Their success was a huge reason the team captured the Atlantic Division crown.
What makes this duo so effective is not just their individual talent, but their synergy. They have a “fantastic relationship on and off the ice,” a crucial element for any goaltending tandem. In a high-pressure market like Toronto, internal competition can sometimes curdle into controversy. That’s not the case here. Stolarz and Woll genuinely push each other to be better, creating a healthy environment that benefits the entire squad. This lack of internal division has allowed management to confidently declare goaltending as “probably the least of their concerns” heading into the new season—a statement that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Stolarz’s Star Turn
Anthony Stolarz’s 2024-25 campaign wasn’t just good; it was spectacular. At 31, Stolarz produced a career-best performance that put him in the elite tier of NHL netminders. His stat line was jaw-dropping: a 21-8-3 record, a league-best .926 save percentage (SV%), and a sparkling 2.14 goals-against average (GAA), complemented by four shutouts.
To put that .926 SV% in perspective, anything north of .920 is considered Vezina Trophy territory. Indeed, had it not been for an unfortunate injury in December that limited him to just 34 games, Stolarz “may have been in Vezina contention.” His underlying numbers were just as impressive. Over his last two seasons with Florida and Toronto, only Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck had more “goals saved versus expectations,” a metric that highlights a goalie’s ability to stop high-quality shots.
Of course, with Stolarz, there is always one significant caveat: his injury history. It’s the one flaw in an otherwise stellar profile. The hope and expectation within the organization is that he can be healthier in 2025-26. If he can stay on the ice, the belief is that fans should expect “even better goaltending” from him. Entering the final year of his two-year deal, Stolarz has every motivation to replicate his performance. Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs are reportedly keen on extending his contract, particularly if he gets off to a strong start.
Woll-id as a Rock
While Stolarz grabbed the headlines with his eye-popping numbers, Joseph Woll was the perfect running mate. At 27, Woll has solidified himself as a legitimate NHL goaltender capable of carrying the load when called upon. His 27-14-1 record and .909 SV% in the 2024-25 season provided the stable, reliable goaltending every contending team needs from their 1B option.
Woll’s value goes beyond the box score. His calm demeanor and technical soundness provide a steadying presence. He doesn’t have to be the hero every night because the system in front of him is strong, and he has a partner who can share the burden. This setup has allowed Woll to develop without the crushing weight of being “the guy” in a demanding market. The result is a confident, capable goaltender who forms one-half of a tandem ranked in Tier 3 by TSN’s “Summer Talent Tiers”—a respectable position for a team with championship aspirations.
The Pipeline: Reinforcements from the Marlies
A strong NHL tandem is great, but true organizational strength is measured by depth. This is another area where the Leafs have made significant strides. Waiting in the wings with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies are two promising young goalies who are “knocking on the door for NHL action”: Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov.
Both 23, Hildeby and Akhtyamov represent the next wave. Hildeby, a towering presence in the net, already has a taste of the NHL, having appeared in six games during the 2024-25 season. Though not yet signed for the upcoming season, he is seen as a key piece of the future. Akhtyamov is another highly-touted prospect, giving the Leafs a formidable one-two punch at the AHL level. Their development is crucial, as they are seen as capable fill-ins who can spell the injury-prone NHL tandem if and when the need arises.
This embarrassment of riches is a testament to the team’s recent drafting strategy. The Leafs have shown a knack for finding goaltending talent “out of absolute nowhere,” with Hildeby, Vyacheslav Peksa, and Timofei Obvintsev all being later-round finds. Peksa, 22, is a longer-term project who will likely see more time in the ECHL, but the system is designed to give these prospects the runway they need to develop.
A Familiar Face on the Horizon?
In a surprising twist, the summer rumor mill has linked the Maple Leafs to a potential reunion with a former netminder: Jack Campbell. Now, before fans panic, this isn’t a move to disrupt the current NHL tandem. A potential Campbell return would be strictly for veteran depth and insurance.
Given the injury histories of both Stolarz and Woll, and the relative youth of Hildeby and Akhtyamov, bringing in a seasoned veteran on an AHL deal or a professional tryout (PTO) makes a lot of sense. Campbell’s high-priced tenure with the Edmonton Oilers is well-documented, but a low-risk, high-reward depth signing could be a shrewd piece of business, providing a safety net without interfering with the established hierarchy.
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Final Thoughts: A Newfound Calm in the Crease
As the 2025-26 season dawns, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in an enviable position in goal. They have an elite starter in Anthony Stolarz, a reliable and talented partner in Joseph Woll, and a pipeline of promising prospects chomping at the bit. For the first time in a long time, there are no question marks, no controversies, and no sense of impending doom surrounding the crease.
In a year of significant change for the franchise, the stability in goal provides a foundation upon which to build. The departure of major figures is expected to bring a quieter, more focused atmosphere to the rink. For the men guarding the net, that newfound calm can only be a positive. The drama, it seems, has finally moved out of the blue paint.
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