The Toronto Maple Leafs recently took care of an important piece of business, extending goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a 4 year $3.75 million contract via insider Kevin Weekes.
This is good news for the Maple Leafs to get their starting goalie locked up for the foreseeable future. The contract will kick in upon conclusion of this upcoming season, so it is effectively a 5 year deal.
Stolarz has been a great fit in Toronto since joining the team last season, giving the Leafs much needed stability in net that they had lacked for years. Last season Stolarz had a career year with the squad, recording a 21-8-3 record with a 2.14 GAA (Goals Against Average) and .926 SP% (Save Percentage).
What does this move mean for Toronto?
At 31 years old, Anthony Stolarz is currently in the prime of his career. And by the time this deal expires he will be 36 and on the backend of his NHL tenure.
The time is now for the Leafs to make hay while they have Stolarz in net for a bargain price. Stolarz taking less than $4 million on this contract gives the Leafs much needed flexibility moving forward.
This deal also comes at a good time considering the Joseph Woll situation. With the uncertainty on when the team will get him back, Toronto went out and brought back James Reimer to provide insurance. When Woll returns, the Leafs will once again have a reliable tandem to rely on that is among the league's best.