It’s a pivotal year in the timeline for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as another early playoff exit could spur a series of major departures for the organization, so we’re going through the stories that will define the 2025 calendar year.

Anthony Stolarz was a revelation for the Maple Leafs to begin the season, posting a 9-5-2 record with a .927 save percentage. Stolarz was expected to work in tandem with Joseph Woll, emerged as the team’s starter through the opening weeks when Woll was placed on injured reserve on opening night, then continued to remain in 1A form when Woll returned. The partnership was reminiscent of the Jeremy Swayman-Linus Ullmark tandem that the Boston Bruins operated with for the past three seasons, and the Maple Leafs received their best goaltending of the Auston Matthews.

Stolarz signed a two-year contract worth $2.5 million annually and for the first two months of the season, he provided outstanding return on value. It was a calculated bet on small sample excellence for the Maple Leafs to stake their next two years on Stolarz and Woll, both of whom have shown signs of being top-calibre goaltenders, while durability remains the primary issue for both of them.

Toronto revamped its identity around a defence-first structure and Stolarz’s outstanding start was paramount to the seamless change. Despite facing a wave of injuries to their forward corps, the Maple Leafs sit atop the Atlantic Division, in large part due to the excellent goaltending they’ve received. Prior to Tuesday’s games, Stolarz’s 9.3 goals saved above expected in all situations still ranks as the 8th-best total in the league (tied with Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood) via MoneyPuck.

Stolarz is a massive goaltender, who moves extremely well for his frame and when he’s locked in, he seemed downright unbeatable for the Maple Leafs. He underwent a procedure to remove a loose body in his knee, after leaving a December 12 contest against the Anaheim Ducks following the first period. And this is the question, that aside from Auston Matthews’ eventual return, may define the Leafs’ season: will Stolarz be able to provide elite goaltending for the Leafs after returning? It’s a tough ask of Stolarz, but it’s the territory that comes with signing with a team enveloped in the sport’s largest market, firmly in a win-now window.

The glib retort is that the Leafs are in deep trouble without Stolarz, but it’s a reasonable question to ask. Stolarz turns 31 on January 20 and was in line to face the largest volume of starts of his career. His talent isn’t in question, but his durability is, while the Leafs are doing everything they can to keep Woll healthy during this January span. If he can’t return to form, Woll becomes the unquestioned starter, as Dennis Hildeby is a true No. 3 goalie in the NHL at this juncture, while Matt Murray is still getting re-adjusted to NHL speed, after missing 20 months of action following bilateral hip surgery. Stolarz still has another year left on his deal and is in it for the long haul, but with Mitch Marner and John Tavares needing new contracts, the urgency to win several playoff rounds is at its peak during this decade.

Toronto doesn’t have a lot of cap flexibility, but in the event Auston Matthews is placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), the Maple Leafs would roughly have $10.5 million to work with. The team is reportedly intrigued by the possibility of adding a third-line centre — Nazem Kadri and Yanni Gourde are two names that have been gaining traction, but adding another goaltender could be another idea. Artur Akhtyamov has been solid at the AHL level, but he’s not ready for NHL action, especially as the Maple Leafs look to find their optimal playoff lineup, and he could be added to any potential trade.

If Stolarz can’t return to top form, then Woll may enter the playoffs as Toronto’s starting goaltender, while Matthews (provided he’s playing again) and Mitch Marner’s every shift will be watched with a careful eye. It’s not the worst contingency plan, as Woll was expected to be the team’s starter in the tandem set up to begin the year, but two starting goaltenders on the roster are better than one.