Marlies Dennis Hildeby’s NHL Debut Shows Growth and Development – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joesph Woll was placed on injured reserve (IR) prior to the team’s preseason opener against the Montreal Canadiens, and Dennis Hildeby was invited to make the trip. With Woll’s injury concerns and his reliability throughout his career, the Maple Leafs will need another goaltender besides backup Anthony Stolarz for net insurance as the season progresses.

Hildeby will share the net with Stlarz until Woll is healthy enough to return. Let’s say he does well and Woll can’t stay healthy or live up to performance expectations. If so, can he stay with the big team for a long time? If so, that could affect the Marlies’ season.

Woll’s Absence Gives Chance to Hildeby

While reports surfaced that Hildeby was traveling with the team to Montreal, no details were immediately released about the reason for the move. Woll was expected to start Wednesday’s game, but withdrew due to a ‘physical condition’ according to Maple Leaf coach Craig Berube. One of the most important questions entering this season is the fitness of the team’s goalkeepers. Woll and Stolarz are both unproven starters and have battled injuries throughout their careers.

Hildeby was impressive for the Maple Leafs in his first game against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday – his second in a row after a 1-0 loss to the Canadiens in their opener. It wasn’t a flawless start, but he made a few quality saves and a third-period win as the Maple Leafs held off a fast and tough Devils team.

The 23-year-old goaltender made an impressive save on Dawson Mercer in the first half and then waited for it to happen as the Maple Leafs took a 3-0 lead. Hildeby also made a good save from Jack Hughes late on, showing he was more than ready to be spotted. He finished the game with 23 saves.

Woll is expected to miss three games, which means he may return with the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, October 16. However, if Stlarz continues to perform as he did for the Canadiens, and Hildeby gets another chance and does as well as he did. , the situation may change.

Hildeby Shows His Growth And Development Within The Franchise

Drafted in the fourth round (122nd overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Hildeby continues to develop and show his growth as an important part of the Maple Leafs organization. He played in many Swedish leagues, including J20 SuperElit, J20 Nationell and HockeyEttan. He finished his final season on loan to Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and achieved an 11-9-0 record with a .918 save percentage (SV%).

Related: Maple Leafs Need Joseph Woll to Shake Off Injury Label

He then moved to North America and played three games for the Marlies, two regular season games and one in the playoffs, all memorable. However, in his first full season in 2023-24, he played in 41 games and finished with a 21-11-7 record, .913 SV%, 2.41 goals-against average (GAA) and four shutouts. . His 21 wins last season was a Marlies rookie goalie record, and he earned a selection to the 2024 AHL All-Star Game.

At 6-foot-7 and 223 pounds, he covers the net well, and this season, he has improved his ability to use his size to cover high angles more effectively. He’s hard to knock down, and as long as he keeps his iron down, he’s very good at blocking shots from the floor. However, he needs help tracking pucks down through traffic, but a good goaltending coach can help him with this.

How Hildeby’s Calling Can Affect Couples

If Woll isn’t ready after three games and needs more time to recover, the Marlies have Hildeby and Matt Murray as their goaltenders, and anyone else could be called up by the big team to fill in. Meanwhile, included on the Marlies’ season-opening 29-man roster are Artur Akhtyamov and Peksa Vyacheslav, two intriguing goaltending prospects who need time to develop.

Murray, who? has extensive career experience but underwent double hip surgery this offseason, will be the Marlies’ starter if Hildeby stays with the Maple Leafs.. However, there are questions about his health and ability, but Akhtyamov and Vyacheslav have not yet made their professional debuts. If Murray can’t find his game, the Marlies will have to rely on two up-and-coming players who are exciting prospects but have never played a game in North America.

If Woll recovers quickly, Hildeby will be sent back to the Marlies, where he will be able to improve his game, and Murray will not be forced to start surgery after major surgery, and while working his way to be called up if needed. or if he does well. However, this also depends on Woll’s speedy recovery. The Marlies are scheduled to open their season against the San Diego Gulls on Saturday, and Murray is expected to start.

Hildeby is the top forward for the Maple Leafs, and at 23, his time to prove himself is now. He is entering the final season of his contract before becoming a restricted free agent this summer. He will use every opportunity with the Maple Leafs to show why he deserves to be on the team next season, especially if Woll can’t stay healthy.