‘(He) Has A Good Likelihood To Be That Goalie For That Group That They’ve Wanted’: Panthers' Sam Reinhart Has Excessive Expectations for Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Toronto

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September 15, 2024

Heading into NHL free company, the Toronto Maple Leafs had some holes to fill. Primarily, the membership wanted to resolve on their goaltending scenario. After parting methods with Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones, the Leafs introduced again Matt Murray and signed Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, Anthony Stolarz.

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Stolarz is coming off a career-best season in 2023-24, regardless of solely enjoying 27 video games. He posted a document of 16-7-2, with a 2.03 targets towards common, and a .925 save proportion in his lone season with the Florida Panthers. The Leafs made their transfer, signing him to a two-year, $5 million deal on the opening day of free company.

Quick ahead to the current, and Panthers ahead Sam Reinhart is optimistic about his former teammate’s prospects in Toronto. Talking in the course of the 2024 NHL Participant Media Tour, Reinhart expressed excessive expectations for Stolarz, believing that Toronto could have discovered the reply to their goaltending considerations.

“(He) has a superb probability to be that goalie for that group that they’ve wanted,” Reinhart stated, in a quote throughout his media availability, and written by The Hockey News’ Michael Traikos.

After serving as a backup for the Panthers final season and in 4 years with the Anaheim Ducks, Stolarz has a chance to carve out a much bigger position in Toronto’s crease. The Leafs, who’ve confronted inconsistencies in internet, are banking on the 6-foot-6 netminder to supply the steadiness they’ve been looking for.

Becoming a member of a youthful Joseph Woll (24), the hope is that his presence will assist develop Toronto’s promising goaltender. Reinhart mirrored on this precise attribute, praising the Edison, New Jersey native for his professionalism and presence in the course of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run.

“He was unbelievable,” Reinhart stated. “One, his character off the ice is top-notch. It’s one thing that anybody would need of their room. I’m excited to see (that occur) for him as an individual.”

Enjoying in simply 109 NHL video games because the 2016-17 season, splitting his NHL profession between the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Geese, and Panthers, the chance in Toronto is the results of years of onerous work and perseverance, and Reinhart is rooting for his success – simply not towards the Panthers.

“Clearly, I hope he doesn’t do too nicely – towards us no less than,” Reinhart joked. “However I want nothing however the very best for him and that chance. It’s one thing that’s deserved via quite a lot of onerous work.”

Stolarz’s .925 save proportion was the very best within the NHL in 2023-24, and regardless of by no means enjoying greater than 28 video games in a season, he’s confirmed himself as a dependable goaltender in his position. Now, the previous second-round decide is raring to money in on the introduced alternative. With the 2024-25 season proper across the nook, time will inform if Stolarz can rise to the problem.