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As we settle into the summer, the amount of transactions in the NHL has slowed to a crawl, which means barring the unforeseen signing or deal, the makeup of clubs on July 15 will be what we see at the opening of training camp in slightly under two months.
The Toronto Maple Leafs saw a number of departures, but their forward group is still good in spite of Tyler Bertuzzi signing in Chicago, and their blueline appears better with the addition of veterans Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (and perhaps Jani Hakanpaa). Where the questions abound is in goal, and what happens between the pipes could have the most impact on the Leafs fortunes next season.
GM Brad Treliving showed confidence in Joseph Woll by signing him to a three-year, $11 million extension effective in 2025, but the question about the 26-year-old is not his talent but his durability, as he was lost for three months with a high-ankle sprain in December and suffered a back injury at the end of Game 6 vs. Boston. Instead of making a trade or signing a free-agent goaltender who had played a primary role in the past, the Leafs opted to sign backup Anthony Stolarz to a two-year deal.
The 30-year-old put up excellent numbers in Florida as the #2 behind Sergei Bobrovsky (16-7-2, 2.03 GAA, .925 save %), but in his eight-year NHL career, he has never played more than 28 games in a season. If Woll can play 50 to 55 games next season, the Leafs will be in good shape, but if his injury issues occur again, can Stolarz carry the ball for a month or longer?
The disaster backup last season was Martin Jones, and the former San Jose Shark saved the Leafs season with Woll out and Ilya Samsonov suffering from his crisis of confidence in December and early January. This season, the third-string option is Matt Murray coming off double-hip surgery, and while everyone is rooting for the two-time Cup winner to make a comeback, it will be a lot to ask for him to step into the breach as Jones did last season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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