In one corner, we have presumptive No. 1 Anthony Stolarz<\/a>, 32, who earned the net the last time the Leafs entered the post-season, garnered a four-year, $15-million contract extension before this nightmare season began, and was the first star of Toronto\u2019s 4-2 win Sunday over the contending Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n In another, we have Joseph Woll<\/a>, 27, whom the Leafs drafted and developed for nearly a decade and was the primary reason Toronto pushed the Sabres to a shootout Saturday in Buffalo. Woll is equally dependable and affordable ($3.67 million AAV through 2027-28).<\/p>\n Both NHL netminders have a muddled history of excellence and injury and are conspiring to dismantle Team Tank.<\/p>\n But there are two more corners to go.<\/p>\n One belongs to Dennis Hildeby<\/a>, 24, the first prospect up. The softspoken Swede comported himself well this season, posting an impressive .912 save percentage over 19 appearances, six of them suddenly in mid-game. Hildeby, like Woll before him, re-signed for cheap and will cost just $841,667 annually through 2027-28.<\/p>\n And now we have contender No. 4, Artur Akhtyamov<\/a>, also 24 but less gigantic, who just re-upped through 2028-29 at a modest $900,000 AAV. Akhtyamov will be on a two-way deal next season, but then his contract improves to a one-way pact.<\/p>\n The Maple Leafs have\u00a0four\u00a0promising goalies locked up through 2027-28 at reasonable \u2014 and potentially bargain \u2014 salaries. Yet they only have one net to tend.<\/p>\n Something\u2019s gotta give, eventually.<\/p>\n The Marlies\u2019 Akhtyamov posted his first AHL shoutout of the season this weekend and can wear his 1.000 NHL save percentage (in 11 minutes of work) as a badge of honour. He should be granted another season of grooming, but he\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.<\/p>\n Latest episode<\/a><\/p>\n Hildeby is a different story. Next season, he will no longer be eligible for waivers, and he should push Stolarz and Woll for starts.<\/p>\n Carrying three goalies in the show is always problematic, and the Maple Leafs simply cannot afford to risk losing an asset for nothing on waivers.<\/p>\n Which is why murmurs that Stolarz or Woll could be on the block kicked up last week as the trade deadline neared. (No goaltenders were traded.)<\/p>\n General manager Brad Treliving can afford to take his time, but this situation will eventually come to a head.\u00a0<\/p>\n Good news for the Leafs is that teams seeking to upgrade in net won\u2019t find a ton of options in free agency. Pittsburgh\u2019s Stuart Skinner and Florida\u2019s Sergei Bobrovsky lead the class, and both are candidates to re-sign.<\/p>\n That should fuel trade interest in Stolarz and Woll. The former has a 16-team no-trade list in Year 1 of his deal; the latter has no say.<\/p>\n And both Woll and Stolarz are upping their worth by playing so well down the stretch.<\/p>\n Deciding which one to trade won\u2019t be easy.<\/p>\n \u201c(Stolarz) competes hard. That\u2019s just how he rolls. And I thought he was outstanding here tonight,\u201d Morgan Rielly told reporters in Minnesota, following Sunday\u2019s 36-save showing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s folding the tent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my attributes is competitiveness. It\u2019s obviously s—– where we are this time of year. But it\u2019s an 82-game season,\u201d Stolars said. \u201cWe have to reset, play hard, start to establish a culture. We have a lot of callups and young guys. We have to show them the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"32](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/32THOUGHTS_500X500_ICON_V2-500x360.jpg\"){kind=icon}
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