Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Stolarz, Matthews, Nylander, Bertuzzi & Knies – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I will take a look at another newcomer to the team’s roster – Anthony Stolarz. I will also share some of the veterans the current Maple Leafs will be looking for this upcoming season. Finally, I’ll look at one player who got away and guess why he left. That’s Tyler Bertuzzi.

First thing: Why is Anthony Stolarz Jumping on the Map?

Stlarz’s move to the Maple Leafs marks an important new chapter in his hockey journey. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, the 30-year-old goaltender joins Toronto on a two-year contract. There are high expectations for the 6-foot-6 big netminder. After posting impressive stats as Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup, including a .925 save percentage, Stolarz appears poised to challenge Joseph Woll for the starting spot. And maybe that’s exactly how the team drew you.

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Stolarz’s decision to move to Toronto reflects a desire for a prominent role and a competitive environment. He recognizes the historic nature of the Maple Leafs and sees an opportunity to compete in meaningful ice time. Although Woll has great potential, he is no Bobrovsky. So, Stlarz is busier in Ontario’s capital than in the Sunshine State.

Despite the Maple Leafs’ recent goal-setting strategy in favor of rebuilding projects, Stolarz’s solid metrics suggest he’s far from being the expected miracle at the crease. He brings a sense of reliability between the pipes.

Stolarz’s journey, hosted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012, featured learning from veteran goaltenders such as Bobrovsky and the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson. He credits Bobrovsky with his work ethic, a quality he intends to bring to Toronto. As the Maple Leafs look to bolster their defense under new coach Craig Berube, acquisitions like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev are expected to complement Stlarz’s presence in net.

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For Stolarz, the move represents an opportunity to prove himself in a tough hockey market. He also knows that he came with a team hungry for success. As he settles into his new role, fans will see how he can successfully translate his Stanley Cup winning experience into consistent play for the Maple Leafs.

Item Two: Maple Leafs Players Who Can’t Hit Milestones in 2024-25

Thanks to Jon Steitzer at LeafsNation for his look at the team’s upcoming milestone. Several Maple Leafs players are on the verge of significant milestones this season. Auston Matthews could have a historic season, possibly reaching his 400th goal, 700th point, and moving into 5th place on Toronto’s all-time scoring list. He played in only 562 regular season games. Remarkably, Matthews is only 53 goals shy of becoming the all-time leading scorer for the Maple Leafs.

William Nylander is 33 goals away from the Maple Leafs all-time leading scorer, 72 points away from reaching 600 points, and 36 points from the Maple Leafs all-time leading scorer. Mitch Marner is 24 games from his 600th game, six goals shy of 200, and 61 shy of 700 points. Morgan Rielly is close to 800 games, needing just nine more, and is 20 out of 100 goals, 28 out of 500 points, and 57 points away from being the Maple Leafs’ second all-time leader among defensemen. John Tavares is 60 games away from 500 in Blue & White, 16 out of 200 goals as a Toronto player, 81 out of 500 points with the Maple Leafs, 23 points into the top 20 Maple Leafs scorers of all time, 60 points out of 1100. career points, and 44 goals from 500 career goals.

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It looks like there will be events to celebrate throughout the season.

Thing Three: Tyler Bertuzzi Lives in Chicago, But Why?

After one season with the Maple Leafs, Bertuzzi signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks worth $22 million. That’s an average annual salary of $5.5 million—the same amount he got from Brad Treliving on a one-year contract last summer. The difference with Bertuzzi was the name. He seemed to be tired of walking around and wanted to sit somewhere for a long time. There are worse places than Chicago.

Interestingly, Bertuzzi had never considered the Blackhawks until teammate Nick Foligno reached out to share Chicago’s interest in signing the winner to a multi-year contract. After gambling on a one-year contract, Bertuzzi got the protection he wanted. Additionally, he now has the opportunity to play with Connor Bedard on Chicago’s top line.

Reading between the lines, it seems Bertuzzi didn’t like his season in Toronto. He found himself forgetting a little. He also admitted that he feels uncomfortable being on the payroll and facing the media circus. While he got off to a slow start, he played his best hockey late in the season and in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bertuzzi gave the team a solid presence in front of the net and even went a bit overboard in March.

On the outside, he looked slow and often a step behind the game. Given his season, it’s possible that the Maple Leafs’ re-signing of Max Domi offers the best belt.

What’s Next for Maple Leaves?

Several teenagers should enjoy watching it this season. Matthew Knies appears poised for a breakout second season based on his impressive rookie growth and dominant playoffs. He should find a place alongside Tavares or Matthews, who greatly expand the top lines. Knies looks like a shoo player in the top-6 role.

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Given Bobby McMann’s injury history, will he be able to move up the roster? McMann’s strength is impressive, but his health may be affecting his contributions. Finally, as I mentioned before, what happened to Nick Robertson? He has shown his ability to score goals in limited ice time. With so many top-six prospects, could Robertson be a serious offensive threat? That would add depth and versatility to the team’s top players if he can.

Developing the young players of this team could be key if the team hopes to build on last year’s success and advance to the playoffs.