Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz is looking like an early Vezina Trophy finalist

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ goaltender Anthony Stolarz is turning heads around the league with his strong start to the season. So much so, Stolarz is rapidly climbing the ranks among the NHL’s best, and has quickly become a goaltender to watch when it comes to Vezina Trophy voting.

Stolarz leads all NHL netminders with a .928 save percentage, and has posted a 9-5-2 record, with a 2.13 goals against average, through his first 16 games with the Maple Leafs. Stolarz has carried the Maple Leafs through a slew of injury troubles this season, and if he’s able to play enough games to be considered, will certainly find himself within the conversation for the NHL’s best goaltender at the end of the year.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Seravalli discussed Stolarz’s chances of being considered for the Vezina Trophy this season.

Yaremchuk: Let’s start with Overreaction Season. I’m going to give you a take, based on some recency bias, and you’re going to tell me a scale of 1-to-10. With 10 being you’re absolutely insane, and that’s never going to happen, and 1 being – no, that actually will happen, and it’s not an overreaction at all.

Let’s start with one guy that has been a topic of conversation this week, that’s Anthony Stolarz in Toronto. I’m going to say it is not a fluke at all what he’s doing through 30 games, and Stolarz will be a Vezina finalist this year, Frank.

Seravalli: Seven. I think he’s got a chance, and still a lot to be determined as far as workload. His career high is games started in any season is 24, so he’s never really played a quarter of the year, and he’s rapidly approach that.

Not to say he can’t do it, or that the workload will be too much, at some point every backup goes to being a starter, or at least gets an opportunity to run with it. You know, you’re not born a starter typically in the NHL. So, he has a chance, but as consistent as he’s been, he’s also done a really good job of covering up some things for the Leafs. They’ve defended a lot better this season. I think he’s their unquestioned MVP this season, I really do.

Yaremchuk: Yeah, I think we talked a lot about Mitch Marner while Auston Matthews was out, but if you look at the body of work as a whole, Stolarz has been without a doubt their most important player.

For more on the Maple Leafs start, the Rangers plans moving forward, and all the very latest from around the NHL, watch the full episode below.