Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will be out 4-6 weeks, general manager Brad Treliving confirmed Tuesday.

Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury during a December 12 game against the Anaheim Ducks and was listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He will undergo a procedure in New York on Wednesday to remove a loose body in his knee that resembles a ‘loose pebble’ Treliving confirmed to reporters. Stolarz was placed on injured reserve on Sunday retroactive to December 12, which would’ve made him eligible to return to December 19, but this new timeline confirms that he may only return by the end of January at the earliest.

The 30-year-old emerged as a leading candidate for the Vezina Trophy while operating in a tandem setup alongside Joseph Woll. Stolarz posted a 9-5-2 record in 17 appearances, with a .927 save percentage and 2.15 goals against average. Dennis Hildeby was called up on an emergency basis, and will function as Woll’s backup.

It’s a crushing loss for the Maple Leafs and it further highlights Woll’s importance to the Maple Leafs as a healthy goaltender capable of taking on a true No. 1 role. Stolarz and Woll emerged as the best goaltending tandem in the NHL, for a Maple Leafs team that has pivoted to a defence-first identity under Craig Berube. Woll will now face a larger volume of starts than expected, while the Maple Leafs look to comfortably work Hildeby into the rotation.

Stolarz signed a two-year deal worth $5 million, coming off a Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers. He returned excellent value on a small sample, but there were always concerns about his injury history and durability.

If the Maple Leafs need to look for further goaltending options, Artur Akhtyamov is a potential callup from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. The 23-year-old has posted an 8-1-1 record with a .911 save percentage in 11 starts with the Marlies, and while the Maple Leafs don’t want to rush him to the NHL, he is the next man up if injuries continue to pile up.