Anthony Stolarz is grateful to still be in Toronto.
“It’s a vote of confidence to me,” the 32-year-old goalie said. “You know, you kind of look at the turnover, and they want to keep me around and, for me, it’s exciting. I want to be here, want to play here.”
New general manager John Chayka traded away goalies Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby as part of a busy first few months on the job. The Leafs had 10 newcomers in the lineup in Tuesday’s season-opening loss to the Canadiens, including starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
“You want to win hockey games and just seeing all the fresh faces and the personalities and the work ethic and the pedigree of all these players that we brought in, it’s high-calibre,” said Stolarz. “So we think we can do something special in this room.”
Stolarz started last season as Toronto’s starter after signing a four-year extension during training camp. That contract, which carries a $3.75-million cap hit, starts this year.
With Woll away on personal leave, Stolarz struggled under the weight of a heavier workload at the start of last year. The New Jersey native left a game on Nov. 23 with what he called a “nerve issue” and did not return until Jan. 23. He then sustained a groin strain on April 8, which ended his season.
Stolarz posted a career-worst .893 save percentage while playing in just 26 games.
“Just forget about last season,” he said of his mindset in the summer. “Just kind of go out there and, obviously, rehab. Have to first and foremost get healthy and put a lot of work in there. Tried to put on a lot of muscle to keep my body strong. Once I kind of got the okay to go back and skate, it was just kind of working on just simplifying my game and just staying patient, working on some hand-eye [coordination] and movements around the crease and just trying to be as calm and collected as possible.”
Stolarz looked calm and collected during his season debut on Wednesday stopping 26 of 27 shots to pick up Toronto’s first win, a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders.
“Yeah, it was good,” Stolarz said. “Been locked in in pre-season practices, so I just kind of let that roll over, carry over, and just tried to play a simple game.”
Fans appreciated the effort and chanted ‘Stollie! Stollie’ after a couple of big saves.
“I was just talking to Bob[rovsky] about him, and they have a good relationship,” said coach Jim Hiller. “Bob was just so happy and thought he played remarkable. You know, maybe that has some effect on the guy too, just the comfort level with the two of them.”
Stolarz served as Bobrovsky’s backup in Florida during the 2023-24 season when the Panthers won the Stanley Cup. Stolarz led the NHL with a .925 save percentage that year. He posted a .926 save percentage to lead the league again during his first season in Toronto.
But Stolarz has never played in more than the 34 games he logged during that first season with the Leafs. And now he’s back in a backup role behind Bobrovsky.
“He’s a great goalie and a hell of a person,” Stolarz said of the two-time Vezina Trophy winner. “We get along extremely well. He’s been extremely helpful for this team, just his professionalism and the way he goes about his business.”
Bobrovsky is already part of Toronto’s leadership group. But he’s also 38 and coming off a season in which he posted the worst save percentage (.875) of his career. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston notes that it may end up being close to a 50-50 split in starts this season when it comes to Toronto’s tandem.
Based on his first start, Stolarz appears up for the challenge.
“He was sharp,” said third-line winger Colton Sissons. “He made some big saves at key moments, especially down the stretch there. He had a great, great game, so that’s good to see.”
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Easton Cowan ended his first season of professional hockey by helping the Toronto Marlies win the Calder Cup last spring.
“It did a lot,” the 21-year-old winger said. “I mean, any time you’re playing pro in the playoffs helps a lot, so a lot of confidence heading into this year and just want to keep it going.”
At the end of the shortened camp, Auston Matthews identified Cowan as someone who deserved praise for a strong performance.
“I think Cowboy’s looked really good,” the captain said. “I feel like he’s taken a step in his game.”
It continues to look that way as Cowan leads the Leafs in scoring with three points in two games. His power-play goal on Wednesday proved to be the difference against the Islanders.
Hiller didn’t know much about Cowan before getting the job with the Leafs, but is quickly becoming a big fan.
“I just like his trajectory and how mentally he really wants it,” the coach said. “And it’s easy to say, [but] then there’s all these things that you have to do. And when I see him getting to the rink early and stretching and eating and then going into the gym, that tells me he’s on the right path.”
Cowan spent the summer focusing on winning puck battles and picking pucks off the wall while also packing some more muscle onto his 6-foot frame. The pride of Mount Brydges, Ont. believes 190 pounds is his optimal weight and will allow him to be strong and speedy. He weighed in at 189 pounds at training camp.
Stolarz describes the difference in Cowan from his first year to second year as “night and day.”
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Stolarz continued. “I think the defensive aspect of his game has improved, as well. He’s getting some PK time out there. You know, I think that’s just maturity and growing as a player.”
Cowan, Sissons and centre Nick Paul have the makings of a good shutdown line for the Leafs. Hiller started them against Bo Horvat and New York’s top unit on Wednesday night and liked the results.
Sissons scored the game’s opening goal with Paul and Cowan picking up assists.
After the game, two reporters attempted to ask Sissons about Cowan at the same time.
“If you’re both asking about it, I think he was pretty good,” Sissons said with a grin. “Yeah, he was feeling it. Just a dynamic player. He has the puck on his stick a lot and makes a lot of good plays, so really blessed to be playing with him right now.”
And Cowan still has room to get better. Much better, in fact.
“Sky’s the limit with that kid,” Sissons said of the 28th overall pick of the 2023 draft. “Yeah, he’s got all the potential in the world.”
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With first overall pick Gavin McKenna joining the Leafs, Cowan is no longer the youngest player on the team.
“Everyone’s been great to us,” Cowan said. “Some young juice and some veterans, it goes a long way and we want to keep it going and keep having fun.”
Cowan and McKenna played together on Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Juniors and are relishing the chance to reunite in Toronto. They are playing together on the second power-play unit and are often spotted smiling and laughing together on the ice before and after practices.
“It’s been great,” Cowan said. “I mean, we got to know each other well in Ottawa there a couple years ago and now that we’re playing on the same team, it’s pretty cool. You guys see what he does on the ice, but off the ice he’s just an unbelievable guy. I love hanging out with him and excited to get closer and keep playing with him.”
After a nervy minus-two debut on Tuesday, McKenna looked more comfortable on Wednesday night and should’ve picked up an assist but a 2-on-1 pass to William Nylander somehow slid through the Swede’s legs.
“Well, I thought he was better,” Hiller said of the 18-year-old rookie. “We talked about that, [about] taking a step ... Almost had his first assist there on that one. Actually, he had three or four plays. On the power play, I thought he was probably most dangerous. So, yeah, a step and better again.”
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Hiller was happy and a bit relieved to pick up his first win as Leafs coach.
“Well, you want to get it, right?” he said. “I’ll be honest with you, you want to get the first one into the column. But it’s not just me. We’ve got a new coaching staff, we’ve got a new general manager, new players so, really, I think probably all of us feel pretty good about getting the first one.”
Cowan declared that “the vibes are great” in the Leafs’ room.
“As soon as you get all four lines going, I mean, it’s fun to play,” Cowan continued. “Everyone’s laughing, having fun, which is good.”
“It’s a great feeling and something for our team to grow on and expand on,” said Stolarz. “Obviously, you want to win the first one, but to come out the way we did and respond the way we did was extremely encouraging for sure.”
The Leafs will get back on the ice for a practice on Friday, which will be their first one since the blockbuster deal that saw winger Kirill Marchenko arrive from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Toronto will then host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
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Lines in Wednesday’s game:
Marchenko - Matthews – Roslovic
McKenna - Tavares – Nylander
Cowan - Paul – Sissons
Duhaime - Blueger - Groulx
McCabe – Tanev
Rielly – Raddysh
Ekman-Larsson - Stecher
Stolarz starts
Bobrovsky
