Maple Leafs confirm huge news involving Anthony Stolarz; Nylander, McCabe updates
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton - Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs have shared some huge news on the injured Anthony Stolarz and have also provided exciting updates on William Nylander and Jake McCabe.
After a 2-month hiatus on the sidelines, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has made some significant strides in his recovery and will be joining the team on their upcoming 4-game road trip that starts Monday night in Colorado.
Ahead of this morning's practice, Stolarz was on the ice taking shots from player development coaches Nikolai Antropov and Jake Muzzin, as well as goaltending coach Curtis Sanford leading him through positioning drills.
Head coach Craig Berube then mentioned after his session that the goaltender could be on the cusp of a return very soon. Joining the team on their upcoming road trip couldn't be a better sign of an imminent return.
He's coming along well. He's been skating for a bit here now and I think it's close where he'll be, you know, with us full time.
The team also provided significant announcements regarding William Nylander, who is confirmed to be returning tonight against the Vancouver Canucks after missing six games with an unspecified injury, and Jake McCabe, who is listed as a game-time decision tonight, per Elliotte Friedman.
It's going to be a grueling week-long road trip with stops in Colorado, Utah, Vegas, and Winnipeg. There will be one back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday, so expect a split between Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby, but based on Stolarz's presence on the road trip, the rest of the games can be deemed TBD.
The 32-year-old last played in a game on November 11th against the Boston Bruins. He had been pulled after allowing 3 goals on 11 shots before officially leaving the game due to an injury a period later.
It had been a struggle up until that point for Stolarz, who was mired in one his worst slumps since 2022-23. He had posted a 6-5-1 record with a .884 SV% and a 3.51 GAA, after having led the league in save percentage in back to back seasons.
He's been ramping up his practice participation since the end of December, but if they cautiously hold him out for the 4-game trip, look for the hulking netminder to make his return during a 5-game home-stand that immediately follows.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 10 | 478 ANSWERS Maple Leafs confirm huge news involving Anthony Stolarz; Nylander, McCabe updates Should the Maple Leafs run with a 3-goalie committee when Stolarz returns? | ||
| Yes | 276 | 57.7 % |
| No | 202 | 42.3 % |
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