Toronto Maple Leafs News

With Joseph Woll (lower-body) still sidelined, the Maple Leafs will turn to Stolarz between the pipes for the third time in their first four games. The 31-year-old Stolarz was incredible last season, posting a 2.03 GAA and .925 SV% in 27 outings (16-7-2), and has picked up where he left off, showcasing a tremendous 1.54 GAA and .940 SV% through two games this season (1-1-0). The Maple Leafs enter action as -173 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings club that was defeated 8-7 by the Ottawa Senators in their last contest.

Nylander was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness. Max Pacioretty was inserted into Toronto's top powerplay unit in his absence. Nylander could be available to return to the lineup when the Maple Leafs return to the ice on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Tavares did not play on Saturday against the Penguins due to an illness but was back at practice as a full participant on Tuesday. He has one point (0G / 1A) in two games so far this season. The Maple Leafs return to action on Wednedsay night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Nylander was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an illness. Max Pacioretty was inserted into Toronto's top powerplay unit in his absence. The Maples don't return to action until Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings, so it's unclear if Nylander will be ready to return to the lineup.

Stolarz allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Maple Leafs' 1-0 loss in Montreal on opening night. Despite the loss, it was a strong showing for Stolarz, who could see extra playing time while Joseph Woll is out with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs are -195 home favourites vs. the Penguins on Saturday.

Tavares missed the morning skate due to illness and will be a game-time decision vs. the Penguins. If Tavares can't play, Pontus Holmberg is expected to move up to the second line and Ryan Reaves would draw back into the lineup. Max Pacioretty will replace him on the top power-play unit.

Stolarz allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Maple Leafs' 1-0 loss in Montreal on opening night. Despite the loss, it was a strong showing for Stolarz, who could see extra playing time while Joseph Woll is out with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs are -195 home favourites vs. the Penguins on Saturday.

Reaves only saw 7:36 TOI in Toronto's season opener on Wednesday but will head to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday in New Jersey for Bobby McCann. Reaves only appeared in 49 games in 2024-25, and it appears he will be in and out of the lineup again this season.

McMann was a healthy scratch for Toronto's season opener on Wednesday but finds himself in the lineup for Ryan Reaves on Thursday in New Jersey. The 28-year-old had a surprise breakout season in 2023-24, with 15 goals, 24 points, 52 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus in 56 games played.

With Toronto on the back end of a back-to-back and Anthony Stolarz coming off a 1-0 loss to Montreal, Dennis Hildeby will make his NHL debut and start for Toronto on Thursday in New Jersey. The towering 6'7" netminder had a solid season as the Toronto Marlies (AHL) starter in 2023-24 with his 21-11-7 record, 2.41 GAA and .913 SV%. He will head to New Jersey to take on the undefeated (2-0-0) Devils, whose new head coach Sheldon Keefe will be looking for a revenge victory against the team that let him go during the offseason.

Toronto will be without goaltender Joseph Woll until at least October 16th due to a lower-body injury after he was placed on the injured reserve earlier Wednesday. The 26-year-old netminder was expected to be the Maple Leafs' number one goaltender this season but will pass that duty on to Anthony Stolarz while he recovers. In 25 games played in 2023-24, Woll had a 12-11-1 record with a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%.

Originally expected to start the season opener for the Maple Leafs, Woll will not play on Wednesday night due to a lower-body issue. Anthony Stolarz will make his Maple Leafs debut in the crease and will likely be backed up by Dennis Hildeby, who was recalled on an emergency basis from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) earlier today. The 26-year-old Woll battled injuries last season and was limited to only 25 appearances (12-11-1), posting a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV%.

Stolarz was signed by the Maple Leafs in the offseason under the presumption that he would be a heavy-workload backup behind Joseph Woll, but he will start for their season opener as Woll is battling through lower-body tightness. The 30-year-old Stolarz posted career bests with a 2.03 GAA and .925 SV% in 27 games with the Florida Panthers last season (16-7-2). Stolarz also set a career-high with 24 starts last season and has only started more than 12 games twice in his career, but the expectation is that Stolarz should set a new career-high in starts this season. The Maple Leafs enter the action on Wednesday as -190 road favorites against the Montreal Canadiens.

Mermis signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs in the offseason but will begin his 2024-25 campaign on the Long-Term Injured Reserve due to an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old is week-to-week after undergoing successful jaw surgery last week. In 47 games with Minnesota in 2023-24, he had three goals, eight points and 33 PIMs.

Jarnkork has been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve due to a lower-body injury after he re-aggravated a training camp injury in last Thursday's preseason game. The 33-year-old was originally day-to-day with the injury but is now without a timetable to return. If he is forced to miss significant time it will be a massive loss for the Maple Leafs after he had 10 goals, 21 points, and a +16 plus/minus in 52 games played in 2023-24.

Hakanpaa was absent from a large portion of training camp but did begin practicing with his new club last week. The bruting 6'7 defenseman spent the last three seasons with the Dallas Stars but battled injuries last season, missing the entirety of the playoffs while playing only 64 regular season games.

Minten suffered a high-ankle sprain in early September, causing him to miss the entirety of training camp and the preseason. The 20-year-old Minten appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24 before being returned to junior, but failed to pick up a point during his brief showing.

Dewar was absent from training camp after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and will begin the 2024-25 campaign on Injured Reserve. The 25-year-old Dewar was traded to the Maple Leafs from the Minnesota Wild ahead of last year's trade deadline and tallied five points (1G / 4A) in 17 games with his new club.

Cowan was never really expected to make Toronto out of training camp and has been loaned back to the London Knights (OHL) for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The 19-year-old who was Toronto's 2023 1st-round pick (28th overall) will rejoin an already stacked team in London that currently ranks third in the CHL's top ten rankings after week 1.