Anthony Stolarz signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. It begins next season and has an average annual value of $3.75 million.
The 31-year-old goalie missed nearly two months last season while recovering from knee surgery. He played an NHL career-high 34 games (33 starts) and went 21-8-3 with a 2.14 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and four shutouts.
It’s the first NHL contract Stolarz has signed that is longer than two years. He signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 2, 2024 ($2.5 million AAV).
"It's a long process but I'm happy with it," Stolarz said Monday. "We got to a number that my family and I are comfortable with, and obviously 'Tree' (Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving) was happy with as well.
"(The commitment) is huge. It makes you feel secure. It makes you feel wanted. I'm looking forward to getting the season started with the guys and just being part of a core, being part of a group that is committed to winning. I think the (security) is why you play the game. You want to feel secure. You want to feel wanted in a city and to have your family there. And, long term, it's nice to be able to go home and kind of leave things here now. It's exciting."
Stolarz is expected to receive the bulk of the workload early this season with Joseph Woll away from the Maple Leafs indefinitely to attend to a personal family matter. Dennis Hildeby signed a three-year, $2.53 million contract Sept. 2.
"He hasn't played a 50-game season but we think the depth we have at the position sets us up well," Treliving said of Stolarz. "Every night last season, we saw at different times both guys carry the ball. I think both Anthony and Joe are capable of being the guy, but we're set up where it's by committee. Dennis Hildeby has had a great camp as well.
"(Stolarz has) been good for us and obviously has a lot of good hockey left, so having that out of the way, like there is in any deal, there's give and take on both sides. I think the number is a good number for us and gives Anthony some security, so happy to get it done."
A second-round pick (No. 45) by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2012 NHL Draft, Stolarz is 64-39-12 with a 2.55 GAA, .918 save percentage and 12 shutouts in 142 regular-season games (116 starts) with the Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Panthers and Maple Leafs, and 4-2 with a 2.43 GAA and an .894 save percentage in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games (seven starts).
"He means a lot," Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said. "I think he's the ultimate competitor. I think he's a guy that goes out there and does whatever it takes to help the team win. He's a guy you really appreciate and want in your corner at all times."
Toronto plays its season opener against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 8.
"This is where I wanted to be," Stolarz said. "This organization showed [faith] in me by signing me to a two-year contract. Everything here has been first class and I've really enjoyed my stay here."
NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report
