The Maple Leafs practised at the Ford Performance Centre on Monday before travelling to Muskoka to begin a team-bonding trip.
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Before practice began, coach Craig Berube took a moment to recognize that Anthony Stolarz signed a four-year extension. Stolarz smiled and took a sip of water as teammates tapped their sticks.
“It’s a long, long process, but I’m happy with it,” the 6-foot-6 goalie said. “I got to a number that my family, agent and I felt comfortable with, and obviously [general manager Brad Treliving] felt comfortable with as well.”
Stolarz, who signed a two-year, $5 million contract last summer, revealed that negotiations on an extension started ramping up in early August. The new contract, which runs through the 2029-30 season, is worth $15-million and carries a $3.75-million cap hit.
“It’s like any deal, there’s give and take on both sides,” Treliving said. “The number is a good number for us and gives Anthony some security, so happy to get it done.”
Stolarz made it clear he didn’t want the talks to carry into the season. In the end, the deal got done with time to spare. It is the longest contract that Stolarz has ever signed.
“You want to feel secure and you want to feel wanted in the city and be able to have your family there long term,” he said. “It’s going to be nice to be able to go home [at the end of a season] and kind of leave things here now.”
Stolarz, who led the NHL in save percentage in each of the past two seasons, did consider playing out the year and testing the open market, but ultimately decided he was right where he wanted to be.
“This organization showed a lot of faith in me to sign me to a two-year contract and everything has been first class,” the 31-year-old said. “I’ve really enjoyed my stay here. So, for me, if something could be worked out where I could stay long term and be a part of this group, you know, I thought it was a win-win for both sides.”
Stolarz posted a .926 save percentage last season before backstopping the Leafs to a playoff series win against the Ottawa Senators. Playing under the microscope in Toronto doesn’t seem to bother the New Jersey native at all.
“The fans are obviously a huge part of this all,” Stolarz said. “It’s one of the reasons I stayed is just the passionate fan base.”
Stolarz even highlighted getting recognized around town as a positive.
“It’s pretty special to be able to look out in the stands and see people with your jersey on,” he added. “I mean, I kind of thought that coming in last year, I was kind of a guy that was in the background a little bit and just looking up and being able to see Stolarz jerseys and all the kids that had signs, it really makes you think back to when I was a kid going to New Jersey Devil practices. I think just their loyalty and passion towards us is obviously a huge part in all of this. I’m looking forward to giving back.”
‘Ultimate competitor’ Stolarz ready to give back to Leafs Nation Anthony Stolarz signed a four-year extension with the Maple Leafs over the weekend and his teammates celebrated with the goaltender at practice on Monday. Leafs captain Auston Matthews calls Stolarz the ‘ultimate competitor’ that you want to fight for, and Stolarz says the support from his teammates and passionate fans in Toronto are some of the reasons why he wanted to remain in Toronto.
Stolarz has played well, but he has not played a lot. In fact, his 34 games last season represented a career high. Stolarz has also faced plenty of injury adversity in his career. He missed time with a knee injury and a concussion last season.
“He hasn’t played a 50-game season, but we’re set up that you don’t necessarily need to have that,” Treliving pointed out. “We think the depth that we have at the position allows us to [have] good goaltending every night.”
Stolarz and Joseph Woll, who is in the first year of a three-year deal with a $3.66-million cap hit, provided Toronto with one of the best tandems in the league last season.
“We saw last year both of the guys at different times carried the ball and that’s what I anticipate this year,” Treliving continued. “Anthony, and Joe for that matter, are both capable of being the guy, if you will, but we’re set up where it’s by committee.”
The Leafs also have a couple promising prospects in 24-year-old Dennis Hildeby, who got into six NHL games last season, and 23-year-old Artur Akhtyamov.
“I also like the term [in the Stolarz extension] in terms of how it sets up organizationally,” said Treliving. “There’s lots of talk [about how] we’ve had a veteran third guy around [in the past]. Well, at some point you’ve got to let these guys go a little bit, right? And Dennis has had a terrific camp. You see Double A, he’s had a good camp.”
‘Win-win’: Stolarz gets security and Leafs get goalie stability Anthony Stolarz signed a four-year, $15 million extension with Maple Leafs and couldn’t be happier that he gets to make Toronto his long-term home. Stolarz spoke about the long process to getting a deal done, which he calls a ‘win-win’ for both sides, and GM Brad Treliving expressed his confidence in the 31-year-old netminder.
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Toronto’s goaltending depth will be tested early this season because Woll is currently on personal leave to deal with a family matter and there is no timeline for his return. Treliving had no update on the 27-year-old’s status on Monday.
The team signed 37-year-old former Leaf James Reimer to a professional tryout last week.
“We’re going to take the next couple of days just to let him get his feet under him,” Treliving said. “You can never have too much depth with the position. And, obviously, with Joe’s situation and not knowing the timeline there, I wanted to make sure that we’ve got options. James is in here and we’ll give him a day or two just to kind of get some shots. James is a veteran. We know what he’s all about. We’ll just evaluate that in the next week or so.”
Reimer practised with Marlies group on Monday.
‘Good emotions’: Reimer aims to make most of second chance with Leafs Goaltender James Reimer is back with the Maple Leafs on a PTO, and following his first session with the team on Saturday, the 37-year old spoke about what it means to be back with the team, and making the most of his second chance with Toronto.
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Berube lamented the lack of intensity during Saturday’s 4-2 pre-season loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
“That can drive a coach bananas,” he said with a small smile. “But I understand.”
Berube is looking to raise the intensity level this week. At one point in Monday’s practice, he stopped a drill and had some choice words for the players.
“We’ve got to ramp it up a little more, and get a little more detail in our game,” he said.
Monday marked the second time at training camp that all the NHL regulars worked together in the same group. Top prospect Easton Cowan continues to skate on the fourth line beside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton. The 20-year-old is among the stand-out performers at training camp and appears to be on track to crack the opening-night lineup.
“He’s a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger,” observed captain Auston Matthews. “It looks like the pace doesn’t really affect him. He’s keeping up with the pace really well. He’s the kind of player that I find can slow the game down as well and speed it up when he has to. And when he’s on the ice and he has the puck on his stick, he can make a lot happen and can kind of do a lot of different things to control the game.”
Berube spoke to Cowan before training camp and laid out exactly what he needed to show to earn a spot and so far the 2025 Memorial Cup MVP is delivering.
“He’s done what we asked him to do, the hounding part of the game, just the work ethic and the compete, playing predictable, playing direct,” Berube said. “He’s done that so far in camp, and he’s done it in the games too.”
Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, David Kampf and Michael Pezzetta skated as extra forwards at practice.
Leafs Ice Chips: Berube ups intensity as Cowan closes in Leafs head coach Craig Berube is upping the intensity in training camp as Toronto’s regular season roster comes into focus, and rookie forward Easton Cowan appears to be closing in on locking down a spot for opening night. TSN’s Mark Masters has more.
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After practice the Leafs boarded buses and headed to Muskoka to start their annual bonding trip.
“Every year you have new guys,” said defenceman Chris Tanev. “It’s great to get to know them away from the rink, spend some time with them, sort of see that other side maybe you wouldn’t get at the rink.”
There may be a little baseball talk on the trip considering the Toronto Blue Jays are getting set to host Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on them for sure,” Matthews said. “Definitely always like to watch playoff baseball and we’re obviously all rooting for the Jays.”
Before taking questions on Monday, Treliving made a point of congratulating manager John Schneider and the Jays.
Berube got to know some of the players during the summer, including George Springer, who played a little hockey growing up.
“He loved it,” Berube said. “That’s what he talked about. He said, ‘I wanted to play hockey.’ He said back in Connecticut, he played as a young kid, and he just loved running over guys. He probably would have been a good player for us to have. We like those type of guys.”
Leafs coach Berube appreciates Jays’ Springer’s hockey mentality It took all 162 regular season games but the Blue Jays completed their incredible 2025 season atop the AL East and enter the playoffs as the #1 seed in the American League. The Maple Leafs are rallying behind the Jays, especially coach Craig Berube who says it’s more personal for him after meeting some members of the team in the summer.
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The team-bonding trip will be most important for the new players. Toronto’s three key off-season additions are all skating on the same line right now with Nicolas Roy in the middle of Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli.
“That line possessed a lot of pucks in the offensive zone and were heavy on it,” Berube said following Saturday’s pre-season game. “I was pretty happy with that Roy line; with the way they play that heavy style of hockey and hanging onto pucks. Pretty simple and direct.”
The hope is the Roy line will be able to soak up some defensive-zone starts this season, which will free up the Matthews line to do more damage offensively. Roy (6-foot-4, 201 pounds) and Joshua (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) certainly make their presence felt down low.
“Their physicality is going to be important,” said Stolarz. “They’re two big guys who are responsible on both ends of the ice. They get pucks in, go to work, and force other teams to be hemmed in their zone.”
Roy, who was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade, was making his pre-season debut after dealing with an upper-body issue earlier in camp.
“I want to try to get more O-zone time,” he said. “I think we played simple. Pretty good in the D-zone, but I think we didn’t spend enough time in the offensive zone.”
“We would have liked to have some more offensive-zone time,” Joshua agreed. “But our first game out there, just getting a feel for each other and maybe a second or two late here and there. But that’s what the pre-season is for and we’ll sharpen up and be ready to go.”
Roy matched a career high with 15 goals last season. Joshua hit the 18-goal mark two years ago.
“Royzy has made some in-tight plays in practice that he’s kind of stuck out,” noted Stolarz. “And DJ, he’s got a quick release as well.”
‘Heavy hockey’: Leafs see big potential in big Roy, Joshua combination New Leafs forwards Nicolas Roy (6-foot-4) and Dakota Joshua (6-foot-3) played together for the first time on Saturday and the potential was evident. “Their physicality is going to be important,” predicted goalie Anthony Stolarz. “They’re two big guys who are responsible at both ends of the ice.”
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With the Leafs struggling to generate offence, Maccelli moved to a line with John Tavares and William Nylander in the third period on Saturday. It was the fourth different line he’s seen shifts with over the course of three pre-season games.
“I’m just experimenting, basically,” said Berube.
“I’m good with it,” Maccelli assured. “I mean, I still haven’t played a lot with the same line, so I’m kind of good with going all over the place. It doesn’t really affect my game yet.”
Maccelli, who started camp on the top line with Matthews and Matthew Knies, posted four assists in his first two exhibition outings before being blanked on Saturday.
Maccelli experienced another change at Monday’s practice as the southpaw shifted to the left-wing spot on the line with Roy and Joshua, who moved to the right.
With only two right-shot wingers available (Nylander and Jarnkrok), the Leafs will need some players to play on their off wing. Maccelli has never played consistently on his off wing in the NHL.
‘I’m good with going all over’: Leafs continue to experiment with Maccelli Matias Maccelli has played on four different lines through three pre-season games with the Leafs. Craig Berube admits he’s still trying to find a good fit for the new winger. “I’m good with it,” Maccelli said. “I’m kind of good with going all over the place.”
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Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson scored a power-play goal and landed a game-high five shots on net on Saturday night.
“So fast out there,” said Roy. “Feels like he’s got one of the best cardios on the ice. I feel like he’s never stopping. A really good player. Fun to watch.”
Hutson produced 66 points last season en route to winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie.
“The biggest thing is he’s so shifty, he’s so patient at the point that, you know, he kind of buys his forwards time to get in front and makes it difficult for our defencemen to continue that box out,” Stolarz said. “You just got to stay with him. He’s a special player for sure.”
The Leafs will see Hutson again on opening night when they host the Habs again.
“He’s a hell of a player,” said Joshua. “He’s really, really quick and agile. He keeps you guessing. So, yeah, that was good to see him out there and, you know, a little bit better knowledge for next time.”
‘He’s never stopping’: Leafs take notes on elusive Hutson ahead of opener Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson scored a power-play goal and fired a game-high five shots on net during Montreal’s pre-season win in Toronto on Saturday night. “Feels like he’s got one of the best cardios on the ice,” said Leafs centre Nicolas Roy. “I feel like he’s never stopping.”
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Lines at Monday’s practice:
Knies – Matthews – Domi
McMann – Tavares – Nylander
Maccelli – Roy – Joshua
Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan
Robertson – Kampf – Jarnkrok
Pezzetta
McCabe – Tanev
Rielly – Carlo
Ekman-Larsson – Benoit
Thrun – Myers
Mermis
Stolarz
Hildeby
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